Today Is Super Bowl Sunday - America's biggest game day. While all football finals are highly anticipated, this one is even more so, because it is a re-match of the 2008 nail-biting finale between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. This means more viewers, more parties and of course, more noshing!
For believe it or not, today is not just the most popular television event of the year, but also, the biggest day for home parties and, the second largest day for food consumption after Thanksgiving!
So what is everybody's favorite food? Pizza tops the list. Pizza Hut is gearing up for 35 orders a minute and is anticipating delivering over 442 miles of pizza, or the equivalent of 176 laps around the historic motor speedway of game host city, Indianapolis. Pepperoni of course, is the favorite topping. The company estimates that it topped pies with 14 billion of the round nuggets last year - enough to circle the globe 3.5 times!
Second favorite on the list? chicken wings! Poultry Times estimates that 1.25 billion chicken wings will be sold on game day! Foot-long subs, hot dogs and burgers round up the list.
And that, is just the warm, take-out stuff - Super Bowl Sunday is also a big day for salty snacks. Americans supposedly crunch their way through 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 69.6 million pounds of guacamole, 4.3 million pounds of pretzels, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn and 2.5 million pounds of nuts!
As you would expect, all this noshing takes some serious money, not to mention, preparation time - It is estimated that this year Americans will spend a total of $11 billion USD on game day - 73% of it on food and beverages and, about 10 million hours getting it all ready!
Of course, all this eating takes its toll. Convenient store chain 7-Eleven reports a 20% increase in antacid sales the day after the big game. Not only that, if statistics are to believed, between six to nine million workers call in sick on 'Super Bowl Monday', and equally as many, show up late. It is no wonder that some Americans believe the day after the big game should be declared a national holiday. What do you think? Be sure to let us know, by adding your comments. And, for those who missed the epic 2008 standoff between the two finalists here, are the highlights.
Go Giants! Go Patriots!
Resources: newsnet5.com,torontosun.com,Ktar.com, conwaydailysun.com