The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League (NFL) in the United States. It is played annually between the champions of the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC). The Super Bowl is one of the biggest sporting events in the world, with over 100 million viewers tuning in to watch the game. It has also become a major event for parties, gatherings, and food consumption. Millions of Americans come together on Super Bowl Sunday not just to watch the game, but to eat, drink, and be merry. From chicken wings to nachos to pizza, Americans consume massive quantities of food while watching the big game. But what are the most popular and consumed Super Bowl foods year after year? Let’s take a look at some of the top contenders.
Wings
Chicken wings are a perennial favorite Super Bowl food. According to the National Chicken Council, Americans are estimated to consume a whopping 1.42 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl weekend! That’s enough wings to put 572 wings on every seat in all 32 NFL stadiums. The demand for wings on Super Bowl Sunday is so high that restaurants and bars have to prep extra cases of wings to be ready. Below are some key facts and figures on chicken wing consumption during the Super Bowl:
Chicken Wing Consumption on Super Bowl Sunday
| Year | Number of Chicken Wings Consumed (est.) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1.42 billion |
| 2022 | 1.4 billion |
| 2021 | 1.4 billion |
| 2020 | 1.4 billion |
| 2019 | 1.38 billion |
– Americans are projected to consume over 1.4 billion chicken wings for Super Bowl LVII in 2023.
– Chicken wing consumption on Super Bowl Sunday has steadily increased over the past decade.
– Restaurants and bars ordering extra cases of wings to meet Super Bowl demand has become an annual tradition.
– Major chicken wing suppliers like Tyson Foods ramp up production in advance of the Super Bowl.
The data clearly shows that when it comes to Super Bowl Sunday, chicken wings reign supreme year after year. The portability, flavors, and indulgence of wings make them an ideal finger food for game day. Bars and restaurants entice customers with wing deals and specials, further fueling the chicken wing craze. It’s no surprise that Americans will put away over a billion wings as they watch the Super Bowl.
Pizza
What goes better with football than pizza? Pizza is consistently one of the most ordered and eaten foods on Super Bowl Sunday. According to Pizza Hut, Super Bowl Sunday is their busiest day of the year. Some key stats on pizza consumption on the big game day:
Pizza Consumption on Super Bowl Sunday
| Pizza Ordered on Super Bowl Sunday | Number of Pizzas |
|---|---|
| From major pizza chains | Over 12.5 million |
| At Pizza Hut locations | Over 2 million |
| Domino’s deliveries | Over 2 million |
| Total pizzas ordered | Over 12.5 million |
– Pizza chains experience their highest volume days on Super Bowl Sunday.
– Over 2 million pizzas are ordered from Pizza Hut alone for the big game.
– Domino’s expects to deliver over 2 million pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday.
– Americans are estimated to order over 12.5 million pizzas on Super Bowl Sunday.
Super Bowl Sunday has practically become a national pizza holiday in the U.S. Friends, families, and football fans across the country order pizza in staggering quantities to fuel the football festivities. Pizza chains bolster their staffing and inventory to handle the onslaught of Super Bowl orders. Clearly, pizza is a fundamental food of Super Bowl Sunday celebrations and viewing parties.
Avocados
Avocado consumption also sees a major uptick on Super Bowl Sunday for guacamole and as a topping. According to the Hass Avocado Board, Americans consume nearly 105 million pounds of avocados on Super Bowl weekend. Some key figures:
Avocado Consumption on Super Bowl Weekend
| Avocado Consumption | Pounds Consumed (est.) |
|---|---|
| 2023 (projected) | 105 million |
| 2022 | 103 million |
| 2021 | 98 million |
| 2020 | 96 million |
| 2019 | 94.3 million |
– Avocado consumption has grown steadily over the past 5 years as guacamole has become more popular.
– Americans are projected to consume 105 million pounds of avocados during Super Bowl weekend 2023.
– Super Bowl weekend accounts for over 20% of total avocado consumption in the U.S. for the entire year.
– Football fans consume nearly 3 times as many avocados on Super Bowl weekend versus a typical weekend.
With chips and guacamole being a fixture at watch parties, demand for avocados spikes leading up to the Super Bowl. Grocery stores often run promotions on avocados and guacamole kits to capitalize on this demand. There’s no doubt that America’s obsession with avocados goes into overdrive on Super Bowl Sunday.
Chips and Dip
What goes better with guacamole than tortilla chips? Americans purchase truckloads of chips and dip to accompany their game day feasting. Some estimates on chips and dip consumption:
Chips and Dip on Super Bowl Sunday
| Item | Amount Consumed |
|---|---|
| Tortilla chips | 119 million pounds |
| Potato chips | 11 million pounds |
| Dip | 8 million pounds |
– Tortilla chip consumption sees the biggest jump, with 119 million pounds sold.
– Potato chips trail at around 11 million pounds sold on Super Bowl Sunday.
– Around 8 million pounds of dip is consumed along with the chips.
Chips and dip are the quintessential pairing for snacking and watching the game. Their crunchy, salty, and flavorful profile makes them hard to resist while watching football. Super Bowl Sunday delivers a major sales boost for tortilla and potato chip producers annually.
Vegetables
Believe it or not, even vegetable consumption receives a boost on Super Bowl Sunday. With all the fatty, indulgent foods being consumed, vegetables provide a lighter option for health-conscious fans. Some key vegetable consumption figures:
Vegetable Consumption on Super Bowl Sunday
| Vegetable | Amount Consumed |
|---|---|
| Carrots | 11 million pounds |
| Celery | 14 million stalks |
| Olives | 8 million pounds |
| Onions | 5.8 million pounds |
– Carrots and celery commonly used for veggie trays see boosted sales.
– Olives and onions for pizzas, dips, etc also get consumed in greater quantities.
– Despite the indulgence on Super Bowl Sunday, vegetables still see increased consumption.
Even with all the pizza, wings, and chips being consumed, vegetables still find their way onto Super Bowl spreads. Their crunch and freshness balance out the heavier foods. Plus, the high attendance of parties leads to larger veggie trays being needed.
Cheese
With all those wings, nachos, dips, and pizzas being consumed on Super Bowl Sunday, it’s no surprise that cheese consumption also gets a major boost. According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Americans eat around 26 million pounds of cheese on Super Bowl weekend. That’s enough cheese to cover about 2.5 football fields! Here’s a by-the-numbers look:
Cheese Consumption on Super Bowl Weekend
| Cheese | Pounds Consumed |
|---|---|
| Cheddar | 15 million |
| Mozzarella | 8 million |
| Pepper jack | 2 million |
| Parmesan | 600,000 |
| Cream cheese | 500,000 |
– Cheddar cheese is the most consumed at around 15 million pounds.
– Mozzarella consumption gets a boost from pizza demand at 8 million pounds.
– Pepper jack and cream cheese are popular for dips and spreads.
– Cheese producers prepare for the demand spike leading up to the Super Bowl.
Cheese adds delicious flavor and texture across so many Super Bowl favorites like nachos, dips, and pizza. Football fans take advantage of the big game as an excuse to overindulge in melty, ooey-gooey cheese. Even those not watching the game may find themselves consuming Super Bowl leftovers laden with cheese during the following week.
Desserts
Something has to satisfy that sweet tooth after all the savory snacking. Popular desserts and sweets also see sales increases for Super Bowl celebrations:
Dessert Sales on Super Bowl Sunday
| Dessert Item | Sales Boost |
|---|---|
| Brownies | +2.8 million |
| Cookies | +6 million |
| Sheet cakes | +4.3 million |
| Donuts | +10 million |
– Donuts see the biggest boost at an extra 10 million sold, according to the National Retail Federation.
– Cookies, brownies, and sheet cakes also get a sales lift to satisfy sugar cravings.
– Desserts provide sweet indulgence to cap off the savory game day feast.
The Sunday before Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day are the only other times that exceed donut sales on Super Bowl Sunday. Desserts round out the massive quantity of food consumed on the big day. Football fans with a sweet tooth have plenty of options like cookies, brownies, cakes, and donuts for satisfying their cravings.
Alcohol
What would the Super Bowl be without some booze? Americans celebrate the big game by consuming massive amounts of alcohol along with their food feasting:
Alcohol Consumption on Super Bowl Sunday
| Alcohol Type | Amount Consumed |
|---|---|
| Beer | 325 million gallons |
| Wine | 29 million gallons |
| Liquor/spirits | 13 million gallons |
– Beer dominates alcohol consumption at 325 million gallons, according to Nielsen.
– Wine trails at 29 million gallons consumed during the Super Bowl.
– Liquor/spirits come in third place with 13 million gallons.
Whether it’s boozy punches at a house party or beer and wings at a sports bar, alcohol and the Super Bowl seem to go hand-in-hand. Americans imbibe over 350 million gallons worth of alcoholic beverages on Super Bowl Sunday. Beer rules as the drink of choice, clearly, but there’s still plenty of wine and liquor flowing as well. Bars and liquor stores also prepare for the predictable sales bonanza.
Water
With all that food and alcohol being consumed, Super Bowl Sunday sees Americans gulping down water at record rates as well:
Bottled Water Consumption on Super Bowl Sunday
| Year | Amount Consumed |
|---|---|
| 2023 (projected) | 82 million gallons |
| 2022 | 79 million gallons |
| 2021 | 75 million gallons |
– Bottled water consumption has risen in recent years as people stay hydrated.
– An estimated 82 million gallons of bottled water will be consumed on Super Bowl Sunday 2023.
– The combination of sodium-rich foods and alcohol drives bottled water sales.
The influx of booze, salty snacks, and spicy foods all make people thirsty for water on Super Bowl Sunday. Bottled water provides an easy way for people to stay hydrated during all their indulgence. Hosts stock up on multipacks of bottled water for their Super Bowl gatherings.
Total Calorie Consumption
When all is said and done, how many calories do Americans consume on Super Bowl Sunday? Using the estimated quantities eaten of various foods and their typical calorie counts, here is an approximation:
Estimated Total Calories Consumed on Super Bowl Sunday
| Food Item | Estimated Calories |
|---|---|
| Wings (1.42 billion) | 5 billion |
| Pizza (12.5 million) | 6.5 billion |
| Chips | 560 million |
| Dips & Salsa | 200 million |
| Cheese | 800 million |
| Desserts | 1 billion |
| Total Estimated Calories | 14 billion |
– Wings, pizza, dips, chips, and cheese combine for over 13 billion calories.
– Add in another billion plus calories from desserts and other foods.
– Americans consume an estimated 14 billion calories on Super Bowl Sunday.
When all the numbers are tallied up, Americans consume a staggering amount of calories on Super Bowl Sunday. Between the chips, dips, wings, pizza, alcohol and more, it’s a day of extreme indulgence and calorie-loading for many football fans. Moderation tends to go out the window on this unofficial national holiday for overeating!
Conclusion
After reviewing the numbers, wings and pizza stand out as the top two most consumed foods by Americans on Super Bowl Sunday. The 1.4 billion wings and 12 million plus pizzas ordered makes these two items undisputed food champions of the big game. Avocados and chips/dip follow closely behind as other favorites that get consumed in massive quantities. From nachos and sliders to sodas and sweets, the Super Bowl gives people an excuse to binge on foods they love. Whether at a house party, sports bar, or restaurant, football fans across America will indulge together and make a dent in the nation’s food supply when the Super Bowl kicks off.
