Simple Football Party and Tailgating Tips

I love having parties at my house, especially football parties!  With the new college football season starting today for Nebraska fans, it's important that I have a few simple tricks up my sleeve for entertaining guests without much fuss or clean up.  Here are some of my go-to tips for keeping everyone fed and happy -- while allowing me to stay out of the kitchen so I can enjoy the game!

1.  Sandwich bar.  Everyone loves footlong sandwiches, and with my garden overflowing with fresh tomatoes, peppers, and onions, it makes for a delicious way for everyone to have their "flavor" of sandwich.  I ordered a 6-foot long sub from my Walmart Deli, complete with condiments, and had it ready for my guests with no prep needed:

Don't forget to snag some cookies from the deli, too!  (Cookies and 6-foot sub come to less than $34 and can feed the whole team!)

2.  Paper everything.  Yes, this is one of those times I don't worry about dishes.  Disposable is my game plan, and with so many cute football-themed paper products available, it just adds to the charm (without adding to my dish pile.)  I adore these plates spotted at Walmart today!

You can also skip plates altogether for dry foods; my kids have no problem eating on a paper towel or napkin at the table.  It's super affordable, too!

3.  Quick appetizers.  Wing, cheese sticks, and pepper poppers are always staple game time food recipes.  I like to combine the frozen foods with something I created to make it feel a bit more "homemade.  Ideas include frozen wings with a homemade buffalo sauce or cheese sticks with a marinara from my own tomatoes!  Keeping some homemade dips and sauces on hand in the pantry and freezer makes it easy to blow everyone away with my own recipes, but keeps it easy to prepare.

While it is fun to find new recipes and whip up something impressive during game time, I'd much rather keep things simple and enjoy the game from the couch with my family and friends.  Moms miss so much of the fun during the year; it's important that we allow ourselves to take shortcuts and be part of the party!

What tips do you have for keeping Mom "in the game"?  I'd love to hear your shortcuts for enjoying the party!


*I am a participant in the Walmart Moms program. Walmart has provided me with compensation for my time on this post. Participation in this program is voluntary. As always, all opinions are 100% my own.