Super Bowl Sunday is upon us. Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers fans, as well as more casual observers, are making bets and planning parties. One of the biggest sporting events of the season, last year this game drew over 114 million viewers. However, Sunday will also be home to Puppy Bowl XI, Kitten Bowl III and a wide variety of snacks to munch on as you watch these events.
Not all snacks are created equally, though. For the health-conscious among us, and for those who are still sticking to their New Year’s resolutions, certain foods items are best left untouched.
The experts at HealthGrove used data from the ESHA nutritional database to determine the least-healthy Super Bowl snacks. The HealthGrove team used this data to create an “Unhealthiness Index” that factors in percent daily value of fat, saturated fat, sodium and total sugar content. Each nutrient is weighted 30 percent, except for total sugar which is weighted 10 percent. The top 25 highest-scoring foods are listed, with the least-healthy snack at No. 1.
For the purposes of this list we did not include name brands, but we’re sure you can read between the lines.
#24. Trail Mix
Unhealthiness Index Score: 48.2
Serving Size: 0.25 cup
Calories per Serving: 177
Fat: 17.9% DV
Sodium: 1.8% DV
Saturated Fat: 11.1% DV
Sugar: 8.7 grams
#23. Pork Spare Ribs
Unhealthiness Index Score: 54.9
Serving Size: 3.0 ounces
Calories per Serving: 307
Fat: 40.4% DV
Sodium: 3.2% DV
Saturated Fat: 39.3% DV
Sugar: 0 grams
#22. Kielbasa
Unhealthiness Index Score: 57.6
Serving Size: 2.0 ounces
Calories per Serving: 191
Fat: 5.6% DV
Sodium: 15.9% DV
Saturated Fat: 3.9% DV
Sugar: 1.4 grams
#21. Cheese Puffs
Unhealthiness Index Score: 60.1
Serving Size: 1.0 individual bag
Calories per Serving: 196
Fat: 19.4% DV
Sodium: 13.7% DV
Saturated Fat: 9.4% DV
Sugar: 1.1 grams
#20. Brownies
Unhealthiness Index Score: 60.1
Serving Size: 1.0 each
Calories per Serving: 227
Fat: 14% DV
Sodium: 6.7% DV
Saturated Fat: 11.9% DV
Sugar: 20.5 grams
Though brownies and cheese puffs have the same Unhealthiness Index Score, brownies are ranked higher because they have more calories per one serving.
#19. Chocolate Coated Pretzels
Unhealthiness Index Score: 61.4
Serving Size: 3.0 each
Calories per Serving: 151
Fat: 8.5% DV
Sodium: 7.8% DV
Saturated Fat: 12.7% DV
Sugar: 12.8 grams
#18. Sweet Potato French Fries
Unhealthiness Index Score: 61.5
Serving Size: 3.0 ounces
Calories per Serving: 129
Fat: 6.6% DV
Sodium: 8.1% DV
Saturated Fat: 1.8% DV
Sugar: 7 grams
#17. Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips
Unhealthiness Index Score: 61.7
Serving Size: 1.0 ounces
Calories per Serving: 147
Fat: 12% DV
Sodium: 8.2% DV
Saturated Fat: 5.5% DV
Sugar: 0.7 grams
#16. White Meat Chicken Nuggets
Unhealthiness Index Score: 63.4
Serving Size: 4.0 each
Calories per Serving: 209
Fat: 24.4% DV
Sodium: 9.1% DV
Saturated Fat: 15.7% DV
Sugar: 1 grams
#15. Soft Pretzels
Unhealthiness Index Score: 67.3
Serving Size: 1.0 small pretzel
Calories per Serving: 210
Fat: 3% DV
Sodium: 14.1% DV
Saturated Fat: 2.2% DV
Sugar: 0.2 grams
#14. Tortilla Chips
Unhealthiness Index Score: 68.2
Serving Size: 1.0 cup
Calories per Serving: 293
Fat: 14.7% DV
Sodium: 14.8% DV
Saturated Fat: 8.9% DV
Sugar: 0.3 grams
#13. Chocolate Chip Cookie
Unhealthiness Index Score: 68.8
Serving Size: 1.0 each
Calories per Serving: 197
Fat: 15.2% DV
Sodium: 5.2% DV
Saturated Fat: 16.2% DV
Sugar: 13.2 grams
#12. Buttered Popcorn
Unhealthiness Index Score: 68.8
Serving Size: 1.0 bag
Calories per Serving: 465
Fat: 19.1% DV
Sodium: 15.5% DV
Saturated Fat: 21.4% DV
Sugar: 0.3 grams
#11. French Fries
Unhealthiness Index Score: 70.3
Serving Size: 1.0 package
Calories per Serving: 375
Fat: 19% DV
Sodium: 17.9% DV
Saturated Fat: 13.5% DV
Sugar: 0.5 grams
#10. Bagel Chips
Unhealthiness Index Score: 70.4
Serving Size: 1.0 bag
Calories per Serving: 789
Fat: 40.8% DV
Sodium: 17% DV
Saturated Fat: 59.8% DV
Sugar: 10.5 grams
#9. Italian Meatballs
Unhealthiness Index Score: 72.8
Serving Size: 3.0 each
Calories per Serving: 160
Fat: 22% DV
Sodium: 22.4% DV
Saturated Fat: 19% DV
Sugar: 1.9 grams
#8. Glazed BBQ Chicken Wing
Unhealthiness Index Score: 73.5
Serving Size: 1.0 each
Calories per Serving: 232
Fat: 24.8% DV
Sodium: 23.9% DV
Saturated Fat: 16.5% DV
Sugar: 1.9 grams
#7. Beef & Cheese Taquitos
Unhealthiness Index Score: 74.1
Serving Size: 3.0 each
Calories per Serving: 362
Fat: 25.9% DV
Sodium: 25.1% DV
Saturated Fat: 28% DV
Sugar: 2.1 grams
#6. Breaded Chicken Tenders
Unhealthiness Index Score: 75.4
Serving Size: 7.0 piece
Calories per Serving: 353
Fat: 40.4% DV
Sodium: 27.7% DV
Saturated Fat: 63.5% DV
Sugar: 0.8 grams
#5. Pork Bratwurst
Unhealthiness Index Score: 76.1
Serving Size: 1.0 each
Calories per Serving: 283
Fat: 38.2% DV
Sodium: 30% DV
Saturated Fat: 42.5% DV
Sugar: 0 grams
#4. Salted Cashews
Unhealthiness Index Score: 76.8
Serving Size: 0.25 cup
Calories per Serving: 197
Fat: 30.7% DV
Sodium: 32.3% DV
Saturated Fat: 17.9% DV
Sugar: 1.7 grams
#3. Pizza Rolls
Unhealthiness Index Score: 77.1
Serving Size: 10.0 each
Calories per Serving: 437
Fat: 20.5% DV
Sodium: 33.3% DV
Saturated Fat: 16.6% DV
Sugar: 5 grams
#2. Chicken Egg Rolls
Unhealthiness Index Score: 77.7
Serving Size: 1.0 each
Calories per Serving: 158
Fat: 18.3% DV
Sodium: 35.3% DV
Saturated Fat: 12.8% DV
Sugar: 4.5 grams
#1. Pepperoni Pizza
Unhealthiness Index Score: 78.5
Serving Size: 1.0 slice
Calories per Serving: 432
Fat: 34.1% DV
Sodium: 37.6% DV
Saturated Fat: 35% DV
Sugar: 5.8 grams
