Local doctor shares healthier food options for Super Bowl parties
FROM MASSACHUSETTS TO MAINE. LOOKS GREAT. OKAY, WE’RE COMING UP ON THE SUPER BOWL. IT’S ALMOST HERE. SO IT’S TIME TO START PLANNING THE MENU. THINKING ABOUT ALL OF THE FOOD, ESPECIALLY IF YOU MIGHT BE HOSTING OR GOING TO A PARTY. SO HEALTH OFFICIALS SAY YOU CAN STILL ENJOY GOOD FOOD WITHOUT PILING ON ALL OF THE EXTRA CALORIES. DOCTOR ROBERT CATANIA, THE DIRECTOR OF METABOLIC AND BARIATRIC SURGERY, WITH SOUTHERN NEW HAMPSHIRE WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, IS HERE WITH US. DOCTOR CATANIA, GREAT TO SEE YOU. GREAT TO BE HERE. SO LET’S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT. SO I’M ALL ABOUT HAVING A CHEAT DAY EVERY NOW AND AGAIN. RIGHT. AND EATING WHATEVER YOU WANT. BUT DOING THAT WITHIN LIMITS. SO IF YOU’RE VERY MINDFUL OF YOUR DIET AND NOT TAKING IN TOO MUCH, HOW DO YOU APPROACH EITHER HOSTING A PARTY OR GOING TO A PARTY WHERE YOU KNOW, IT’S A SUPER BOWL SUNDAY PARTY, IT’S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO BE AMPLE HEALTHY FOOD? OH, THERE’S PLENTY OF GOOD, HEALTHY FOOD. SO YEAH, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE WORRIED IF THEY HAVE TO EAT HEALTHY, THEY HAVE TO EAT BLAND OR BORING. BUT I’M HERE TO TELL YOU THERE’S PLENTY OF GOOD FOOD THAT YOU CAN EAT. THERE’S A COUPLE OF EASY THINGS TO AVOID. SO IF YOU JUST STAY AWAY FROM THE FRIED FOODS, YOU STAY AWAY FROM TOO MUCH ALCOHOL. THAT’S A GREAT START RIGHT THERE. BUT THERE’S PLENTY OF GOOD, TASTY MEALS. WE EVEN PREPARED A LITTLE MENU THAT WE COULD TALK ABOUT IF YOU’D LIKE, FOR OPTIONS AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE. YES. SO AS WE POP UP THAT MENU, LET’S GET INTO THAT A LITTLE BIT. OKAY. SO APPETIZERS PLEASE GIVE US A HINT. WHAT DOES COWBOY CAVIAR. COWBOY CAVIAR IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD IT. IT’S IT’S SORT OF LIKE SALSA BUT IT’S MADE UP OF BEANS CORN, AVOCADOS ONIONS, PEPPERS WITH A DELICIOUS DRESSING. IT’S SO ADDICTIVE AND IT’S SO GOOD FOR YOU. YOU CAN REALLY FILL UP ON IT AND REALLY GET NO EXTRA CALORIES. IT’S A IT’S A HEALTHY WAY TO TO GO CRAZY ON SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. OKAY, SO MAYBE IF YOU’RE NOT GOING TO OPT IN FOR A COCKTAIL OR TWO, HAVE A FRUIT SMOOTHIE, FRUIT SMOOTHIES. ANOTHER GOOD OPTION MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL AND SOMETHING DIFFERENT, BUT HAS LOTS OF GOOD FIBER IN IT. LOTS OF HEALTHY SUGARS, NOT TOO MUCH IN THE WAY OF FAT. SO ANOTHER REALLY GOOD CHOICE TO WALK AROUND WITH. OKAY, CHILI IS A GREAT IDEA FOR A SUPER BOWL PARTY, BUT MAYBE YOU’RE TRYING TO LEAN IT DOWN A LITTLE BIT WITH JUST A VEGETABLE, CHILI, OR EVEN SOME GROUND TURKEY. YEAH. SO I THINK IF YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG MEAL FOR THE SUPER BOWL, WHICH WE ALL ARE, YOU KNOW, STAYING AWAY FROM THE FRIED FOODS AND GO INTO SOMETHING LIKE A CHILI STILL REALLY SATISFYING. VERY, VERY FILLING. NOBODY’S GOING TO WALK AWAY SAYING IT DIDN’T HAVE ANY FLAVOR. AND THERE’S LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS TO MAKE HEALTHY CHILIES, BUT A VEGETABLE CHILI OR A LEAN MEAT CHILI IS A GOOD START. OKAY, BEFORE I LET YOU GO, THOUGH, I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS A CHOCOLATE HUMMUS, BUT I THINK WE DID SEE THAT ON THAT SAMPLE MENU. PLEASE EXPLAIN WHAT THAT’S ALL ABOUT. YEAH. SO IF YOU HAVEN’T HAD, YOU KNOW, CHOCOLATE HUMMUS, IT IT TASTES A LOT LIKE CHOCOLATE PUDDING, BUT IT’S GOT A LOT MORE PROTEIN AND A LOT MORE FIBER. AND IF YOU SCOOP THAT UP ON SOME SOME STRAWBERRIES OR SOME APPLE SLICES OR SOME PEAR SLICES, IT’S GOING TO GET YOU A LOT OF FLAVOR. YOU’RE GOING TO FEEL GOOD WHEN YOU’RE DONE. AND WHEN YOU WAKE UP ON MONDAY MORNING, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE GUILT THAT YOU THINK YOU MIGHT HAVE. AND THAT IS WHERE WE LEAVE IT. BECAUSE IF YOU FOLLOW WHAT YOU JUST PUT UP THERE, IT’S EATING GREAT. IT’S EATING HEALTHY, AND YOU’RE NOT GOING TO WAKE UP MONDAY WITH THAT FOOD HANGOVER. VERY GOOD ADVICE, DOCTOR CATANIA. PLEASU
Local doctor shares healthier food options for Super Bowl parties
Updated: 6:45 PM EST Feb 5, 2026
With three days remaining until the Super Bowl, many people planning to attend watch parties are starting to think about their game-day menus.Health officials said fans can still enjoy flavorful food without consuming extra calories.Dr. Robert Catania, director of metabolic and bariatric surgery with Southern New Hampshire Weight Management, said there are plenty of healthier options that can be both satisfying and filling. >> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go <
MANCHESTER, N.H. —
With three days remaining until the Super Bowl, many people planning to attend watch parties are starting to think about their game-day menus.
Health officials said fans can still enjoy flavorful food without consuming extra calories.
Dr. Robert Catania, director of metabolic and bariatric surgery with Southern New Hampshire Weight Management, said there are plenty of healthier options that can be both satisfying and filling.
>> Download the free WMUR app to get updates on the go <<
Catania recommended nutrient-rich appetizers like cowboy caviar, fruit smoothies as a beverage option, and vegetable or turkey chili as a hearty main dish.
For dessert, he suggested chocolate hummus served with fruit. He advised limiting fried foods and alcohol.
Catania said choosing healthier options can help people enjoy the game and wake up feeling guilt-free the following day.