Make yourself a plate, grab a drink, and grab a seat with a good view! It’s time for Super Bowl Sunday! Whether you watch it for the game, the commercials, or the half-time performance, according to the NFL, about 60% of the United States population will be watching kick off. Make the most of your Super Bowl this year with planning tips that’ll take your party from a couple of friends and a six-pack to an extravaganza of delicious foods, drinks, and plenty of fun. You’ll feel so prepared that you can plan on actually watching the game this year instead of tending to the party itself. 

The Ultimate Guide to Super Bowl Party Planning

Mix Up a Ward 8 for the True New England Patriots Fans

Celebrate your New England spirit with this Patriots-ready Ward 8 cocktail. This is a Boston-born classic that blends rye whiskey with citrus and grenadine for a bold, balanced sip honoring its historic roots in the city’s Eighth Ward. It’s perfect for toasting Super Bowl LX as well as honoring the New England Patriots. Try the recipe here!

Shake Up a Cocktail for Seattle Seahawks Fans

The modern legend of the Last Word cocktail was forged in Seattle when bartender Murray Stenson resurrected the then-forgotten recipe. Raise a glass to the Seahawks with this spirited twist on this city staple. A balanced blend of herbal gin, green Chartreuse, maraschino, and fresh lime combine into something bright and tangy that’s perfect for Seattle’s Super Bowl LX journey. Shake one up here!

Prepare What You Can Ahead of Time

Rushing around the morning of the Super Bowl to make all the preparations you need for the evening can be stressful. Simplify things by making what you can ahead of time. Chili is a great dish to prepare in advance that’s easy to make in big quantities for plenty of guests. Try our crowd pleasing Wendy’s Copycat Chili… just make sure you double or triple the recipe depending on your headcount. Then, you can ask your guests to bring crackers, cheese, chopped onion, or other accompaniments for a potluck style garnish situation.

Create the Perfect Menu of Bite and Cocktail Pairings

Don’t leave your guests overwhelmed by sweet, spicy, or salty flavors. Create a menu that balances bold food flavors with a cocktail counterpart. In our Bites and Cocktail Pairing article, we give you a variety of perfectly paired bites and cocktails resulting in flavor profiles that are just right. You’ll look like a culinary expert in front of all your friends!

Prep a Cocktail for Halftime

But, if you want something specific to Super Bowl LX, we’ve created a Hot Bunny Rum Smash cocktail in honor of Bad Bunny’s halftime performance. This recipe uses a Puerto Rican white rum along with orange juice, lime juice, habanero pepper slices, hot honey, as well as Tajín around the rim. Talk about a spicy way to heat up your excitement for the show!

Make Sure You Have Dietary Options

As much fun as the fried food on a Super Bowl night is, not everyone has the same dietary rules. By having some healthy plant-based, meat-free options, you can make sure that all your guests have something to enjoy. Check out our Healthy Game Day Recipes for a variety of dishes that are as delicious as they are good for you. Maybe you’ll make Fennel and Coriander Cashews for a quick snack or Edamame and Kale Hummus for a bigger bite.

Batch a Cocktail but Be Mocktail Inclusive

While many consider making a batch cocktail (like our Sparkling Pomegranate Cosmo) available at their Super Bowl party, mocktail inclusions for those who abstain from alcohol are all the rage. Don’t let your friends feel left out when toasting touchdowns throughout the evening. The best part is that many mocktails use the same core ingredients as popular cocktails so you won’t have to add much to your shopping list. Get started with our tasty Mocktail Recipes and then let your creativity fly. You can even create your own kid-friendly “mocktail” so the little ones can have a special drink too. 

Don’t Forget About Dessert

Whenever you’re focusing on main dishes and drinks, it’s easy to forget about one of the most important preparations, dessert. But, you also don’t want your dessert dishes to take up all your cooking time and end up with a table of sweets and nothing else. Make things a little simpler this year with our Dessert Bar Recipes that can be made ahead of time and are the perfect handheld treat. We even have a recipe for Gluten-Free, Vegan Jammy Blueberry Bars so you can have an option for those with dietary restrictions.

For the Die Hard Steelers Fan

While we all know the Steelers won’t be in this year’s Super Bowl, we still can’t help but cheer them on. Bring a bit of your favorite team into your celebration with this Steelers game day menu made specifically for supporting the black and gold. Here you’ll find small bites like our Best Sloppy Joe Hand Pies and on-theme cocktails such as the Armchair Quarterback Cocktail. Needless to say, it’s a selection that even TJ Watt would love.

Set Yourself Up for Easy Cleanup 

Using your regular dinnerware is fine for a small gathering, but, let’s be honest, most people will be paying attention to the game, not your plates. Cleanup is easier with paper plates that are compostable, biodegradable, and eco-friendly. When the time comes to clean up, just scoop any extra compostable food and the plates into your compost bin and let nature do its work. You can also ask guests to bring their own take-home container to take home leftovers.

Still itching for more Super Bowl recipes? Check out our Super Bowl Spread for more ideas.

Story by Kylie Thomas
Photo courtesy of Elevate

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We know the winter months can be rough on your mental health. The sun sets early every day, and the frigid temperatures and mounds of snow make you want to stay inside. The first few months of the year can feel like years in and of themselves.

But it doesn’t all have to be doom and gloom. In fact, you can bring a little happiness and light into your life right inside your kitchen. There are plenty of ingredients out there whose properties that can decrease the effects of depression and increase serotonin in the body. Take a moment to bring one of these ingredients into your life through one of our recipes below. Chances are you’ll find yourself smiling before you’ve even taken a bite from the pure joy that is cooking.

15 Antidepressant Food Recipes

Creamed Spinach Dippy Eggs

Tryptophan, an essential amino acid in eggs and spinach, can exert an antidepressant effect by influencing the production of serotonin, making our Creamed Spinach Dippy Eggs a nutritious dish for any time of day. Plus, spinach contains folate, which produces dopamine, another calming and happy source of emotion, in your brain.

Green Eggs

Add a vivid start to the morning with these naturally bright delights thanks to the addition of spinach. Just like the recipe above, this dish is packed with tryptophan for a deliciously cheerful breakfast. Not to mention, studies show that the brighter and lighter the color, like our gorgeous Green Eggs, the happier and more optimistic it can make you feel.

Berry Cobbler with Banana Ice Cream

Blueberries, rich in flavonoids, can help bring about an antidepressant-like effect. When combined with the tryptophan content of bananas, you have a superfood power duo. Our Berry Cobbler with Banana Ice Cream makes use of both these ingredients for a sweet, feel-good treat.

Anti-Inflammatory Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup

Not only can this soup full of turmeric, fresh vegetables, ginger, and lentils help ease your inflammation issues, but, it could also help ease depression. Butternut squash is rich in Vitamin B6, the absence of which has been connected to depression. So, simmer a pot of our Anti-Inflammatory Butternut Squash and Lentil Soup the next time you’re feeling down.

Salmon Poke with Yuzu

The omega-3s in salmon are known to be a wellness booster, but did you know they can be a mood booster, too? EPA and DHA are two types of omega-3s found in salmon which have been linked to lower levels of depression. Add cistrus yuzu to a Salmon Poke plate: it has a stress reducing effect…and it makes an utterly joyful flavor combination.

Pumpkin Soup

The coziness of this soup will warm your heart and add a little extra comfort to your day. Beyond just its warming effects, pumpkin has amino acids. Like many of the other recipes on this list, pumpkin has L-tryptophan, and it also it has antioxidants that can give you an extra boos.

Mushroom Stock

Simmer yourself up a steaming pot of umami goodness with this rich, earthy Mushroom Stock recipe. Mushrooms are full of potassium and ergothioneine, which could help prevent stress and regulate nerve signals. You’ll be ready to dig in after a sprinkle of cheese and green onion on top. 

Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread

You’ve already heard the health benefits of bananas above, but have you ever heard about the antidepressant effects of peanut butter? The compound beta-sitosterol within peanut butter works to help reduce feelings of anxiety. Just slather some butter on a slice of this moist, decadent Peanut Butter Cup Banana Bread for a little morning pick-me-up.

Grilled Zucchini with Tahini Yogurt Sauce and Corn Relish

Incorporate the feel-good ingredient of yogurt into this filling family dinner. Gut health is an essential part of mental wellbeing and the probiotic lactobacillus in yogurt can improve both these elements. We turn yogurt into a special tahini sauce that compliments the Grilled Zucchini but still lets the Corn Relish shine. 

Savory Cheesecake with Grapes

This unique Savory Cheesecake with Grapes combines the richness of cream cheese and blue cheese, the crispy crunch of phyllo, and roasted grapes. Not only does a bite of this savory starter tingle your taste buds, but the blue cheese can be a preventative measure against depression. LH dipeptide, found in fermented foods such as blue cheese, can help suppress depression-related symptoms.

The Ultimate Grilled Cheese and Charcuterie Board for 4 

It’s time to take everything you just learned about antidepressant foods and put it into one big Charcuterie Board using fresh produce from your local farmers. Start with a grilled cheese filled with tryptophan-laden cheeses like Abondance and Tomme de Savoie. Then, move on to completing the board with omega-3 rich salmon and whatever other serotonin fulfilling foods you enjoy.

Grilled Oysters with Roasted Green Chile

Oysters are often called a natural mood booster because they’re packed with nutrients that support brain chemistry and emotional balance. They’re one of the richest food sources of zinc, a mineral linked to lower rates of depression and better stress regulation. Oysters also provide omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, and amino acids to help you feel as good as you can. The warming green chile here doesn’t hurt either!

Chicken Liver Paté and Honey-Fermented Figs

We know you may cringe a little at the thought of chicken livers but they’re actually powerful mood-supporting food thanks to their dense concentration of vitamin B12, folate, iron, and choline. These nutrients help the brain make serotonin and dopamine, support oxygen delivery to brain tissue, and reduce mental fatigue. Plus we promise the honey fermented figs and paté style preparation of the chicken livers make this dish delectable.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Balsamic Onion Galette

You’ll get your fill of all the best veggies in a crispy galette form. Brussels sprouts support mental health with their supply of folate, vitamin C, and antioxidants. All of these are important for neurotransmitter production and for lowering inflammation linked to depression. These make Brussels sprouts especially great for the cooler months since that is when their harvest is most bountiful.

Spinach Soup with Cashew Cream

We know leafy greens seem like an obvious antidepressant food but spinach specifically carries some pretty cool superpowers. It’s loaded with magnesium, folate, and iron which all help calm the nervous system, fuel the brain with oxygen, and keep mood-regulating chemicals firing smoothly. Spinach also delivers antioxidants that protect brain cells from stress and inflammation, while its folate supports serotonin production.

Story by Kylie Thomas

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