TAHLEQUAH — Area residents are gearing up for Sunday’s big showdown: Super Bowl XLVII, pitting the Baltimore Ravens against the San Francisco 49ers. And fans are planning parties to celebrate the occasion.

Some people will celebrate their favorite team, and this year is unique in the coaches facing off on the gridiron: the Ravens’ John Harbaugh and the 49ers Jim Harbaugh are brothers. Some media outlets have coined the term “Bro Bowl” to describe this year’s football fete.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest food consumption day of the year, falling just behind Thanksgiving.

Reasor’s Deli Shift Leader Julie Thrasher said they will be selling lots of finger foods to customers looking to enjoy the game, rather than spend time in the kitchen.

“We do a lot of hot wings for Super Bowl parties,” said Thrasher. “We’ll sell an equal amount of fried chicken and submarine sandwiches.”

Reasor’s offers platters of hot wings, deluxe submarine sandwiches and party platters, ranging from meat and cheese trays to platters of deviled eggs and shrimp cocktail.

“We only ask you place your order 24 hours in advance, and we’ll get your platter ready,” said Thrasher.

The Daily Press polled its Facebook friends, asking how they plan to celebrate the event.

Tahlequah native Robbie Frank plans to honor New Orleans, the site of this year’s match.

“[We’ll be] having a New Orleans theme with gumbo, Abita beer, hot boudin [sausage] and rooting for Edgar Allan Poe’s team, the Ravens,” said Frank.

Cathy Cott said her family only plans a party when the Kansas City Chiefs are playing in the Super Bowl. Cott hasn’t had to worry about having a big event since 1969, the last year the Chiefs made an appearance.

“Maybe someday our lowly Chiefs will make it,” said Cott. “We do watch the Super Bowl, but mainly for the commercials, and we vote on our favorites. They are usually better than the game.”

LaRhonda McBrayer also like the commercials, and said little is required of her in the way of preparing party food.

“As long as my husband has his Ro-tel cheese dip, he is a happy camper,” said McBrayer. “I like to watch the [Super Bowl] commercials. I do like to watch the game, but am not a big fan of the teams this year.”

While some people tune in to the Super Bowl to watch the commercials or the half-time show, purists will be focused on the game itself.

Daily Press copy editor and sports columnist Kolby Paxton said he’s co-hosting a party with his girlfriend, Katie Berghorn. He also included a comical prediction for the game’s outcome.

“I will eat quite a lot of pizza – most likely of the sausage and mushroom variety,” said Paxton. “And I will cheer for the game to end in a 35-35 tie, to be settled at the discretion of Jack Harbaugh [father of Super Bowl coaches John and Jim], following a best-of-five Rock Paper Scissors bout, a pull-up contest, and a bicycle race to the end of the street. I figure 70 total points will allow [49ers quarterback] Colin Kaepernick to do plenty of Colin Kaepernick things, and it will provide ample opportunity for [Ravens quarterback] Joe Flacco to re-re-prove that he is, in fact, elite – whatever that means. Most importantly, a tie game will save me from the otherwise unavoidable melodramatic post-game sermon from the ever-insufferable [Ravens linebacker] Ray Lewis.

Heather Winn, family and consumer sciences educator for the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service in Cherokee County, recognizes that people indulge in party food for the Super Bowl, but offered some healthy tips for party planners.

“Develop a winning Super Bowl game plan; your field is filled with food and refreshments,” said Winn. “Serve tasty, filling and nutritious foods to your family watching fat and sugar content.”

Since the game usually starts in the late afternoon or evening, Winn advised planning a meal to include a main course with sides and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

“Football food can range from grilled items like burgers and franks to steaks or ribs,” said Winn. “If choosing one of these items, a healthier option would be to purchase turkey burgers and franks or 93 percent lean ground beef. Some families choose to make chili with all the fixings. Try a vegetarian version with toppings of low-fat cheddar cheese and sour cream, low-salt crackers, low-fat corn chips and chives.”

Another option would be to serve sandwiches.

“This has endless possibilities for the bread, from whole wheat wraps, whole wheat bread, bagels, English muffins, and hamburger or hoagie buns,” said Winn. “Choose lower fat/lower sodium meats to include turkey, tuna fish or egg salad. Include a variety of spreads from mustard to low-fat mayonnaise or salad dressing. Vegetable toppings for the sandwich could include fresh spinach, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, sprouts, dill pickles, green/red/yellow pepper slices and white or purple onion.”

To accompany the main course, Winn recommends choosing a low-fat side from pretzels, rice cakes, hot air popcorn, raw veggies with a low-fat dip to go with the sandwich, or vegetarian baked beans, steamed vegetables, green salad and/or fruit salad to go with the burgers, steaks or ribs.

 

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