National Football League

On Super Bowl Sunday, veggies are most popular food

Published Jan. 30, 2015 2:20 a.m. ET

foxsports

CHICAGO (AP) While the gladiators of the NFL are clashing in Phoenix at the Super Bowl, the titans of food will be fighting for supremacy at spreads across the country.

Many parties will have chicken wings and pizza. But NPD Group, an independent market research firm that tracks Americans' eating habits, says vegetables top the list of most popular foods eaten on Super Bowl Sunday.

Harry Balzer, chief food industry analyst for NPD, says vegetables have been tops for 30 years.

While baby carrots and veggie trays lead the pack, retailers selling salty snacks, alcohol, wings and pizza also see a sharp spike in sales.

Nationally, Pizza Hut alone will have 60,000 drivers delivering 2 million pies. Spokesman Doug Terfehr says that just before kickoff, the chain expects 1,700 orders per minute.