Super Bowl 2019 Snack Trends: Healthy & Popular Options

Image Credit: @AmeliaJean/Twenty20

The Big Game 2019: It's coming up on Sunday, Feb. 3, and if you're a football fanatic (or just adjacent to one), you might celebrate with a party or two. Some snack options might always seem like a given, but given the way food trends are already going in 2019, a few items could surprise you.

Jeanette Settembre, writing for MarketWatch, has tracked how Americans are trying to eat healthier this Super Bowl Sunday. In fact, nearly 4 in 10 are "actively trying to include more plant-based foods in their diets." That might not mean the chicken wings and meat-lover's pizzas are going anywhere, but you could be more likely to see cauliflower poppers on offer. The pizza might have a cauliflower crust too: Sales of the cruciferous vegetable went up nearly 20 percent between 2017 and 2018.

Hard seltzers and sparkling water varieties might also show up as an alternative to beer. (Don't worry: If you heard some stuff about LaCroix last fall, they're safe to drink.) If your host is a lady, it's entirely possible you'll get to enjoy wine coolers, cocktails, and wine before you crack open a beer. One safe bet for Super Bowl snacking, however, is that somehow it's going to include cheese. According to Nielsen data, online sales alone for cheese doubled year over year between 2017 and 2018. As much as we try to do our best with vegan, Paleo, and low-carb options, sometimes there's just no substitute for a monster bowl of queso.