If you’re trying to impress a hard-to-please teen, you’re not alone! Luckily, we’ve got just the trick for you—a classic game of Would You Rather. With our list of 25 thought-provoking questions that strike the perfect balance of surprise and humor, you’ll have your kids hooked in no time. And if you really want to blow their minds, throw in some trivia that they actually care about. Who knows, maybe they’ll even think you’re cool (but let’s not get ahead of ourselves).
How to Play Would You Rather with Teens
This simple yet engaging game involves presenting two hypothetical scenarios and choosing which one you’d rather experience. Not only does it encourage creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making skills, but it also provides a glimpse into the wild ride that is the adolescent brain. So grab some snacks, buckle up, and get ready for some tough choices and hilarious debates.
The Best Would You Rather Questions for Teens
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Browse through our list and pick and choose the ones you think will work best for your family. You can always come back and try other ones next time!
1. Would you rather be a teacher or have one of your parents as your teacher?
2. Would you rather dance in front of 1000 people or sing in front of 1000 people?
3. Would you rather give up Snapchat or TikTok?
4. Would you rather always be five minutes late or thirty minutes early to every event?
5. Would you rather be a famous athlete or a famous musician?
6. Would you rather be able to talk to ghosts or time travel to the past?
7. Would you rather be able to freeze time or rewind time?
8. Would you rather play in the Super Bowl or in the halftime show?
9. Would you rather love the same person forever or never be in love?
10. Would you rather win a million dollars or have the same best friends for the rest of your life?
11. Would you rather be an only child or have ten siblings?
12. Would you rather go back to the past or have the ability to know the future?
13. Would you rather never brush your hair again or never brush your teeth again?
14. Would you rather have a robot that does all your chores or a personal chef who cooks all your meals?
15. Would you rather lose your phone or wake up every morning by 5 am?
16. Would you rather be in the Olympics for snowboarding or diving?
17. Would you rather brush your teeth with soap or drink sour milk?
18. Would you rather be famous or rich?
19. Would you rather be stung by a jellyfish or 50 mosquitos?
20. Would you rather miss prom or miss graduation?
21. Would you rather have a personal chef or a personal stylist?
22. Would you rather live with your parents forever or live on your own starting today?
23. Would you rather win the lottery or live to 120?
24. Would you rather move to an exotic island or a bustling city?
25. Would you rather skip a grade or never have to pay for gas again?
There you have it—the ultimate list of Would You Rather questions teens will love! Be sure to check out our list of Would You Rather questions for younger kids too.
Having an air fryer was a big deal a few years ago, but you may find yourself fresh out of ideas for whipping up dinner that everyone hasn’t eaten 100 times by now. There are only so many times you can “fry” up zucchini sticks, after all. That’s where your favorite neighborhood market steps in to save the day. From Trader Joe’s Orange Chicken in the air fryer to Trader Joe’s mac and cheese bites, there are tons of quick ways to put a new twist on your favorite frozen foods when you have an air fryer to work with. Get ready to get inspired with these Trader Joe’s air fryer foods just in time for Super Bowl Sunday (or any night you need a quick dinner solution!).
Trader Joe’s Appetizers for the Air Fryer
Mini Chicken Tikka Samosas
Sure, you can pop these in a conventional oven, or you can toss them in the air fryer for an extra crispy take on Tikka Samosas.
Southwest Style Chicken Quesadilla
Nab yourself some guac and cook these babies up in the air fryer for a quick lunch the whole family will love.
Herbaceous Cheesy Bites
We love these flavorful bites that pack a nice crunch. These have just the right amount of spices to balance out the cheesy goodness and heat up well in the air fryer.
Ratatouille Bites
These veggie-forward bites are lovely crisped up in your air fryer and then dunked in some tzatziki sauce. Trust us. The kids won't even catch on that they're packed with veggies.
Chicken & Chimichurri Empanadas
Bake these up in your air fryer and serve with your favorite salsa and you will have some happy guests at your next family party.
Seasoned Waffle Cut Fries
You know that ketchup sprinkles everyone is raving about? Shake some on these fries after they've had some time in the air fryer to crisp up. No dipping sauce needed.
Coconut Shrimp
These are a kid favorite and perfect when served with the Thai Sweet Ginger Sauce for dipping. They get extra crispy in the air fryer which we love.
Fried Olive Bites
Not a fan of olives? You will be after air frying these olive bites that are packed with cheese. Yum and yum.
Colorful Carrot Coins
Have a sweet craving but looking to go more healthy? These colorful carrots are a quick air fryer option and a great way to test out all those dips that TJs is known for.
Herbs de Provence Potato Wedges
If you haven't tried these savory bites, definitely add them to your rotation when you cook up a steak on the grill. The air fryer does wonders for its crispy outside and soft inside.
Mini Beef Tacos
Keep these mini favorites (and their twin sister the chicken version) on hand for when the kid hangry hits. They cook up in a flash via the air fryer and you'll have happy kids in no time.
Tempura Shrimp
You can never go wrong with extra crispy tempura and these shrimp will come out finger lickin' good.
Mac & Cheese Bites
If you haven't tried Trader Joe's mac and cheese bites in the air fryer, you don't know what you're missing.
Vegetable Spring Rolls
Avoid the nastiness that is a soggy spring roll when you pop these babies in the air fryer. Sweet ginger sauce is its BFF.
Scallion Pancakes
Brighten up the flavor in a big way by tossing Trader Joe's scallion pancakes in the air fryer for crispy perfection. They go great with the mandarin orange chicken or really are pretty much the best at any time.
Hearty and flavorful, this Kibbeh appetizer will become a family fave. Made with ground beef, onions and seasonings, these appetizers pair well with almost any dip and are great for the air fryer.
Crispy Vegetable Pouches
These only come out around the holidays and are a delicious, vegetable-forward option with excellent results in the air fryer.
Trader Joe’s Air Fryer Entrees & Sides
Trader Joe's Salmon
Trader Joe's
Salmon is pretty much our favorite in the air fryer. Top it with your favorite teriyaki or barbecue sauce and dinner will be on the table in minutes.
Trader Joe's Hashbrowns
Trader Joe's
Be warned, these are addictive! And it's super easy to cook them up in the air fryer whenever the cravings hit. Top with a fried egg for an easy breakfast.
Impossible Chicken Nuggets
It's darn near impossible to not love these after they've taken a trip in the air fryer.
You had us at "fried!" Kid-friendly and easy to whip up in the air fryer, these fried ravioli are made with semolina pasta, and five kinds of cheese that includes ricotta, mild Monterey Jack, mozzarella, Asiago, and Parmesan.
Cauliflower Pancakes
Sneak in that cauliflower with no problemo by serving these air fried.
Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken
This dish has long been a fan-fave product, but air frying it? It's next-level delish.
There’s no doubt about it: kids are sponges when it comes to learning (and picking up on swear words, turns out). We’ve rounded up some fun facts for kids that will entertain and wow them (and you!). For those in search of trivia for teens, we’ve got you covered as well! Try to stump your kids at the dinner table or go all in for a family trivia night. In the mood for even more fun? Try out these hilarious jokes for kids, the best minute to win it games, and some selections from the 100+ movies every kid needs to see before they grow up.
6. Even in an airplane, a trip to Pluto would take about 800 years.
7. Ham the Astrochimp was the first hominid in space, launched on Jan. 31, 1961.
8. Neptune’s days are 16 hours long.
9. It takes eight minutes and 19 seconds for light to travel from the sun to Earth.
10. The footprints on the moon will be there for 100 million years.
11. A neutron star can spin 600 times in one second.
12. Jupiter is the fastest-spinning planet in the solar system (it only takes about 10 hours to complete a full rotation on its axis).
13. Sound does not carry in space.
14. The Earth's core is as hot as the surface of the sun.
15. The very first animals in space were fruit flies...they were sent up in 1947 and recovered alive.
16. In 2011, ten-year-old Kathryn Aurora Gray discovered a supernova (a star that has run out of energy, explodes and then collapses before it dies) that no one else had seen before.
17. Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, has saltwater geysers that are 20x taller than Mt. Everest.
18. Saturn's rings are made from trillions of chunks of orbiting ice.
19. Alpha Centauri isn't a star, but a star system. It is 4.22 light years away.
20. One day on Venus is almost 8 months on Earth.
21. Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a storm that has been raging for over 200 years.
22. There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on Earth.
2. Garlic bulbs are full of Vitamin C, iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, and more. It also has 17 amino acids.
3. On the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha, potatoes were once used as currency.
4. The strawberry is the only fruit that bears seeds on the outside.
5. According to Tori Avey, coffee became a popular drink in America after the Boston Tea Party of 1773: Making the switch from tea to coffee was considered a patriotic duty.
6. The double coconut palm produced the biggest seed in the world: 45 pounds.
7. Ice cream was once called “cream ice.”
8. Pound cake is so-called because the recipes once called for a pound of butter, a pound of sugar, a pound of eggs, and a pound of flour.
9. Peanuts aren't nuts! (They're legumes.)
10. Carrots weren't always orange: they were once exclusively purple.
11. Cherries are a member of the rose family (Rosaceae) as are quince, pears, plums, apples, peaches, and raspberries!
12. Lima beans have an amazing ability to command wasps as a defense. If insects are eating the lima bean's leaves, the plant gives off a substance that acts as a signal to parasitic wasps to swoop in and destroy their enemy (i.e. the leaf-eating insects).
13. Apples float because they are one-quarter air!
14. Ripe cranberries will bounce like a ball. (Go on, try it!). They also float.
15. German chocolate cake is not from Germany. German is the last name of the man who invented a kind of baking chocolate (Sam German).
16. Cilantro and coriander are considered to be the same.
17. SPAM is a mash-up of the words "spice" and "ham."
Amazing Facts for Students About History
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1. The Wright Brothers only flew together once (though both piloted the planes individually): on May 25, 1910, they took a six-minute flight piloted by Orville with Wilbur as his passenger.
2. Regardless of their size, naval tradition declares submarines to be called “boats” rather than “ships.”
3. Hedy Lamar was a famous Hollywood film actress who also invented what became modern-day Wi-Fi.
8. Before European contact (which caused populations to diminish rapidly ) California indigenous tribal groups spoke more than 200 unique dialects.
9. Amelia Earhart first saw a plane at the age of 10 but didn't take an airplane ride until 1920 when she was 23 years old.
10. Abe Lincoln was a professional wrestler long before he became the 16th President of the United States.
11. After landing in Ireland after her first solo Atlantic flight, a farmer asked Amelia Earhart where she was from. When she said America, he almost didn't believe her!
12. Frederick Douglass's birth name was Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey. When he married he chose the last name Douglass after the hero clan in Sir Walter Scott's famous poem, Lady of the Lake.
13. Frida Kahlo created 143 paintings. Of these, 55 were self-portraits.
14. Babe Ruth was the first baseball player to hit a home run in the All-Star game, at Chicago’s Comiskey Park in 1933.
1. Some tornadoes can be faster than Formula One race cars!
2. There are 2,000 thunderstorms on Earth every minute.
3. The wind is silent until it blows against something.
4. There are ice caves in Iceland that have hot springs.
5. The fastest recorded raindrop was 18 mph!
6. The US gets over 1200 tornadoes a year.
7. Lightning can strike twice.
8. Clouds look white because they are reflecting sunlight from above them.
9. Yuma, Arizona gets over 4000 hours of sunshine a year, making it the sunniest place on Earth. The least sunny place is the South Pole, where the sun only shines on 182 days a year. (Which would you rather live in?)
10. Rain contains vitamin B12.
11. A bolt of lightning is five times hotter than the sun.
12. A hurricane releases enough energy in one second to equal that of 10 atomic bombs.
13. It can be too warm to snow, but never too cold.
14. Tropical storms and hurricanes started getting "named" in 1953.
15. You can tell the weather by counting a cricket's chirps!
16. Worms wiggle up from the ground when a flood is coming.
1. Many people believe that early mermaid sightings can be attributed to dehydration + manatees.
2. Sloths cannot shiver to stay warm, and so have difficulty maintaining their body temperature on rainy days.
3. In the wild, some reindeer travel more than 3000 miles in a single year.
4. Only half of the dolphin’s brain goes to sleep when asleep and the other half stays awake.
5. Other than humans, emperor penguins are the only warm-blooded animals to stay in Antarctica for the winter.
6. The biggest fossil of a spider was found in China. It is one inch long and 165 million years old.
7. The largest living animal is the blue whale, which can measure as much as 100 feet.
8. Nearly 10% of all of a cat's bones are in its tail.
9. In the wintertime reindeer grow their facial hair long enough to cover their mouths, which protects their muzzles when grazing in the snow. Beard-os!
10. Dolphins have been seen wrapping sea sponges around their long snouts to protect them from cuts while foraging for food.
11. Shrimp's hearts are in their heads.
12. While pandas sometimes eat fish or small animals, 99% of their diet is bamboo.
13. An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
14. A fox uses its tail to communicate with other foxes.
15. Dogs have wet noses because they secrete a thin layer of mucus, which helps dogs smell!
16. The female hummingbird builds the world's smallest bird's nest (approximately 1.5 inches in diameter, around the size of a walnut!). She weaves it from spiderwebs which allows it to expand as the chicks grow.
17. The largest land animal in Antarctica is an insect: the columbola (which looks like an earwig). Penguins are considered marine animals.
18. There are 222 owl species in the world. Most are nocturnal, but a few are active during the daytime, such as the Barred Owl.
19. Sloths are strong swimmers, especially good at the backstroke.
20. Sharks do not hunt humans or consider humans food. Shark incidents occur when sharks are hunting for seals, dolphins, or other "human-sized" prey. It's a case of mistaken identity!
21. A koala's fingerprints are so similar to human fingerprints that they could taint a crime scene.
22. The loudest animal in the world is the Pistol Shrimp. It can collapse its jaws so fast that creates a bubble that collapses and creates a sonic blast.
1. In 1962, Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in a single NBA basketball game. No one has broken this record (not even Steph Curry!).
2. Babe Ruth began his career as a pitcher: Ruth was both a left-handed pitcher and a left-handed batter.
3. The record for the long jump is held by Mike Powell: 29 ft. + 4 inches. That’s like jumping the length of two minivans!
4. The most medals won for Olympic basketball (male or female) are both held by women: Teresa Edwards and Lisa Leslie with four gold medals each.
5. Wilma Rudolph (who set the world record in 1960 for 100, 200, and 4x100-meter relay) had polio, scarlet fever, and pneumonia as a child, leading doctors to believe she’d never walk again.
6. NFL Super Bowl referees also get Super Bowl rings.
7. In 1919, Cleveland Indians pitcher Ray Caldwell was struck by lightning in the middle of the 9th inning. He kept playing!
8. The 'G' on the Green Bay Packers helmet stands for "greatness" not Green Bay!
11. Golf is one of only two sports ever played on the moon. In 1971, Alan Shepard hit a ball with a six-iron while on the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission. The other sport was a javelin toss, during the same visit.
12. The shortest player in the National Hockey League (NHL) was goaltender Roy Waters who measured 5 ft. 3 in. tall.
13. The tallest player in the NHL is Zdeno Chara, who is 6 ft. 9 in. tall.
Who runs the world? These women continue to prove that they do, bump and all
Rihanna just so happened to announce that she was pregnant with her second child while on the job. Before her Super Bowl half-time show performance was even off TV screens around the nation, social media feeds erupted in shock and awe. Whenever a woman does an impressive thing while pregnant, it seems to make international news. But the truth is, soon-to-be mothers—from star athletes to powerful CEOs—have long been dominating their fields, bump included.
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1. Rihanna
Rihanna’s performance during the Super Bowl LVII half-time show, a nonstop 14-minute medley of her greatest hits, should have been impressive enough, considering it was less than a year since she gave birth to her first child. But in true iconic fashion, she used the moment—without a single costume change and while suspended on a glass platform in the middle of the arena, no less—to reveal to millions that she’s pregnant again.
A 27-year-old Illinois woman gave birth mere hours after completing the 2011 Chicago Marathon. She said her doctor gave her permission to complete the race, as long as she walked at times, which she did. Even still, she beat her husband’s time in the race and completed it in just 6.5 hours.
3. Amal Clooney
The prominent human rights lawyer went to the United Nations on International Women’s Day in 2017 to encourage the organization to investigate allegations of genocide against ISIS, but publications at the time wrote about how “George Clooney’s wife” was there “showing off her baby bump.” Yes, she was pregnant at the time, but the social media buzz led to a global conversation on how societies view women even as they are doing incredibly important work.
4. Gal Gadot
In addition to battling supervillains on the set of Wonder Woman and Justice League, Gal Gadot was also battling morning sickness. The actress and filmmakers, she told Rolling Stone, went to great lengths to hide her pregnancy on-screen and on-set, where she discreetly filmed intense action scenes. “I didn’t want attention,” she said. “The default should be that women get the job done, but there’s a long way to go and a lot of reprogramming that needs to be done to both genders.”
Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock.com
5. Serena Williams
She is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, and yet it was still a shock to fans when they discovered—after the fact—that Serena Williams won the 2017 Australian Open, which secured her record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam singles title, while secretly pregnant. She didn’t publicly announce her pregnancy, with daughter Olympia, until several weeks later.
6. Marissa Mayer
When Marissa Mayer was appointed the new CEO of Yahoo in 2012, it was already notable news: female CEOs at public tech companies are incredibly rare, and at 37 years old, she was also one of the youngest. But, just before her first day on the job, she announced that she was six month pregnant. This trailblazing news made her the first-ever pregnant CEO of a Fortune 500 tech company.
7. Keke Palmer
Hosting Saturday Night Live for the first time is stressful enough, but using the monologue to announce your pregnancy? Only Keke Palmer could pull that off so hilariously. The actress “set the record straight” during her SNL debut by revealing her several-months-along baby bump. “It is bad when people on the internet spread rumors about you, but it’s even worse when they’re correct,” she joked.
In 2001, Regan Schreiber, who was an all-American swimmer at Penn State in the 1990s, swam the English Channel—which is 30 miles long—while 11 weeks pregnant. She completed the feat in 9 hours and 30 minutes.
9. Kayla Donnelly
The British soldier served in Afghanistan for seven months while unknowingly pregnant in 2010. According to the Daily Mail, she thought she’d been gaining weight from high-calorie army rations. The baby was born just two weeks after Kayla Donnelly returned from service.
10. Alison Hargreaves
The British mountain climber was six months pregnant in 1988 when she climbed the incredibly dangerous north face of the Eiger mountain in the Alps. Her other accomplishments include soloing all the great north faces of the Alps in a single season and for scaling Mount Everest alone without supplementary oxygen or support from a Sherpa team. Although she later died while descending the summit of K2, the second-highest mountain on earth, her son went on to become a record-breaking solo climber as well.
The New Zealand Prime Minister realized she was pregnant just six days before she took office on Oct. 26, 2017, and that was following a political campaign in which she took a firm stance on the double standard women of child-bearing age face when applying for jobs. “It is a women’s decision about when they choose to have children,” she said at the time. “It should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job.” Following the birth of her child, she was the first world leader to take maternity leave, for six weeks, while in office.
12. Aimee Roseborrough
The physical therapist had been rock climbing for 14 years already, so she didn’t think it was a big deal that she kept at the sport, at Joshua Tree National Park, until she was 37 weeks into her first pregnancy and past 34 weeks with her second. “I do kind of get to forget that I’m so huge and, at times, uncomfortable,” she told Good Morning America, noting that her pregnancy hormones aided in her flexibility.
13. Ali Wong
The comedian recorded not one but two hit Netflix standup specials while pregnant, and both were rule-breaking in their own right. In the 2016 taping of Baby Cobra, Ali Wong made previously taboo jokes about pregnancy, miscarriage, and motherhood while seven and a half months pregnant. Then, in 2018, she taped Hard Knock Wife while extremely pregnant, yet she never mentioned her pregnancy in the hour-long performance at all.
This Olympian is now known as the “pregnant runner” with good reason. She crossed the finish line of the 800-meter race at the 2014 U.S. Track and Field Championships while 34 weeks pregnant with her first child. Then, she returned in 2017—this time, four months pregnant with her second child—to run the same race.
15. Kerri Walsh Jennings
When Kerri Walsh Jennings won her third Olympic gold in beach volleyball at the London Olympics in 2012, she was also keeping a brand-new secret: after a missed period and feeling “moody and touchy” throughout the games, the athlete realized she was five weeks pregnant with her third child. “When I was throwing my body around fearlessly, and going for gold for our country, I was pregnant,” she told TODAY.
16. Nur Suryana Mohamed Taibi
The Malaysian sports shooter gained international fame during the 2012 London Olympics, in which she competed while eight months pregnant. Although she did not advance beyond the qualification round in the women’s 10-meter air rifle event, she is known as the most pregnant Olympian ever.
17. Beyoncé
Similar to Rihanna, Beyoncé announced her pregnancy on stage, complete with a dramatic mic drop, at the very end of her performance of “Love on Top” at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2011. She didn’t stop there: in 2017, when she was several months pregnant with twins, she sang two songs from her Lemonade album—“Love Drought” and “Sandcastles”—in a stunning performance at the Grammy Awards.
Pink was met with resistance when she told some members of the music community she wanted to have a family
Pink recently spoke to Zane Lowe on his Apple Music podcast, The Zane Lowe Show. One of the many topics the two discussed was family; specifically, how reluctant some in the music industry were when Pink first decided to share that she wanted to have one.
“Everyone told me, ‘If you have children right now, your career’s over.'” That’s an absurd statement regardless, but especially when you look at the trajectory of the mom of two’s career.
Pink and husband Corey Hart had their first child, Willow Sage, in 2011. Two years later in 2013, she released her hit album, The Truth About Love. The tour was the third highest-grossing tour of 2013, and she was named Woman of the Year by Billboard. She had her second child, Jameson Moon, in December 2016. In August 2017, she released her seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma. Yup, that’s right—eight months after giving birth to her second child.
In 2019, she received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I don’t think we really need to go on, do we?
“Obviously, we’re all much more complex than any of that, but when I had a child, I think it softened me to the world, the part that didn’t understand me,” she told Zane. “And I think that’s when my career began, really. I mean, I did a lot of stuff before that, but really, truly, I think it’s when I started to really understand myself and understand the world and my place in it.”
And over the years we’ve seen how the mom has seamlessly weaved her kids into her career, bringing them on the road, rehearsing with them strapped to a baby carrier on her chest, and even watching one of them blossom into an artist, herself. Willow Sage is a beautiful singer in her own right, and with a mom as impressive and supportive as Pink, it’s easy to understand how she got the support and inspiration to bask in her own light, even while the glow of her mom burns so brightly.
You can hear the entire interview when it drops on Apple Music on February 16 at 10 p.m. PST.
Amid performing some of her greatest hits—including “We Found Love,” “Where Have You Been,” “Diamonds,” and “Work”—RiRi also made a huge announcement: she’s pregnant with her second baby! Oh, and she casually announced it while suspended 60 feet in the air on a hanging platform. That’s just what you do when you’re an icon.
“I was like, ‘You sure? I’m three months postpartum. Should I be making major decisions like this right now? I might regret this,'” she said of being asked to do the Halftime Show. “When you become a mom, there’s something that just happens where you feel like you could take on the world—you can do anything…There’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all. It’s important for my son to see that.”
Needless to say, Rihanna killed it. And while the point of her performing on a 60-foot-high platform was to keep her off the grass on the field (LOL), there’s no denying that it also looked cool as hell. This is one pregnancy announcement that’s going to be tough for anyone to top—literally.
While we don’t know yet if their little boy was watching the show live (it may have been past a 9-month-old’s bedtime), A$AP Rocky was in the crowd, all smiles while he watched his lady do her thing.
When it comes to Game Day parties, guests are focused on three key experiences: watching their favorite team face their opponent, enjoying comedic commercial breaks and, of course, chowing down on amazing food.
If it’s your turn to have friends and family corral around your living room TV this year, you’re likely feeling the pressure of how to deliver exactly that. Toss in having to find all the party supplies you need, creating an impressive food and drink menu and finding games that’ll keep your kiddos entertained throughout the event, and it can feel even more overwhelming.
Although there’s a lot to accomplish in one day, you can tackle the evening with a few simple steps. We’ve turned to the expert at Smithfield Foods for their planning tips on how to host a winning watch party.
Assign the Decorations to Your Kids
Have your children join in on the party preparation by assigning them the task of creating all themed decor. Not only will it keep your children entertained for hours, but it will also allow you the time to focus on the remaining items from your to-do list. Depending on which sports event you’ll be watching, ask your little ones to create construction paper cutouts of footballs and trophies, as well as banners with common scoring phrases like, “Touchdown” and “Slam Dunk.”
If you’d prefer to keep scissors out of the mix (we totally get it!), have your mini Picassos draw and color in their own masterpiece—dedicated to your home team, of course—on a disposable, paper tablecloth. You can spotlight their artwork while also keeping your tables stain-free.
Build a Snack Stadium
With a quick Google search or look at Pinterest, you’ll note that building a true snack stadium from scratch is tough work. You’ll need cardboard, wood or styrofoam for your stadium’s exterior and plenty of time and patience to set it up without it collapsing.
To keep lift levels low and easy, Smithfield Foods recommends grabbing a decorative tablecloth as your base and placing dips, like this jalapeño popper dog dip, the center of your table spread arena. Then surround your field with finger foods and bites for dipping, such as potato chips, nachos, veggies and crackers. Our favorite appetizers that are sure to please guests include these tasty sausage pretzel bites and Italian sausage nachos. Last by not least, your final stadium tier will feature disposable drinks, from canned sodas and water bottles to juice boxes.
Think: Drinks
Parties and drinks are practically synonymous. Create a large batch of one special, sports-themed cocktail to keep your guests happy and don’t forget to give it a clever name, like tailgate tea, sideline sangria or hail Mary margarita.
For an added layer of team spirit, incorporate ingredients into your recipe that’ll allow the hue of your cocktail to match your favorite team’s color. For instance, blue curacao is great to sport the color blue while pineapple juice is great for teams that don yellow.
Play Commercial-Break Games
While we can all agree, commercial breaks are one of the best parts of Game Day, it’s a good idea to incorporate small games that children can participate in. It’ll keep their interest going and get them involved.
A printable Super Bowl bingo allows for several rounds of fun and can even include small prizes for some friendly competition. For more goodies that kids can take home, play pass the helmet. Fill a helmet with candy and small toys and have youngsters pass the helmet around in a circle as music plays in the background. Once the tunes stop, the player holding the helmet can pick a treat.
Hand Out Swag Bags
Who said only kids love goodie bags? Create swag bags that both children and adults can take home filled with sweet treats. For a football viewing party, make your own goody bag that looks just like a football. Grab a pack of small, brown paper bags and cut up pieces of white painter’s tape to create the appearance of football stitches. Then, fill the bag with candy, popcorn or snacks.
In need of more inspiration for your next family meal? Smithfield Foods’ large portfolio of products, including Smithfield® Bacon, Nathan’s Famous® Beef Franks and Eckrich® Smoked Sausage, can meet your household’s needs for breakfast, lunch, dinner and even snack time.
Support our Black community and snag a slice of pizza, get a haircut or satisfy your soul food longing today
During the month of February, we celebrate Black History Month and one way to do so is by getting in the habit of shopping and supporting Black-owned Bay Area businesses. From pilates classes and bookstores to pie and coffee, you’ll find a slew of businesses below that your family will love. So go buy yourself a sweet treat, purchase a few gift cards, and support these businesses now and always.
Multicultural Bookstore Walk into Tamara Shiloh’s store and you will be transported to a world of multicultural books including sections on LGBTQ, disabilities, and biracial families—everything one could want to teach and learn about diversity and inclusion.
Marcus Books The oldest, independent Black bookstore in the country, Oakland’s Marcus Bookstore is over 60 years old and proudly carries books by and about Black people.
Must-Shop Black Owned Shops in the Bay Area
Cincha Stylish yet practical, Cincha is a travel belt that secures personal bags and coats to your luggage leaving your hands free to hold on to more important things... like little hands. Every purchase means 100 airline miles is donated to the nonprofit Miles4Migrants, which helps to reconnect migrant families.
Taylor Jay’s With the approach that “We Are Every Woman”, this Oakland-based clothing collection prides itself on inclusivity and sustainability for clothing that will not only last a lifetime but look and feel incredible.
Beija-Flor Naturals Using fair trade and organic botanical ingredients from Brazil, founder Stevonne Ratliff began crafting skin products to treat her own skin hyper and hypopigmentation. Years later and with stores in Oakland and San Francisco, Beija-Flor carries a full product line for face, hair, and body.
Iyoba Born out of a desire to relieve her son’s eczema using natural products, Oakland mom Efiya created what is now her famous artisan soap. Today, she handcrafts organic, natural hair, body, and home products, all of which are paraben, synthetic fragrance, and sulfate free.
Blk Girls Green House This lovely open-air plant and home goods store is also a community space but currently accepting shopping by appointment only.
Oakland’s Own Every purchase from this store means an investment back into the Oakland community through youth empowerment, mentoring services, and community programs.
Nabolom Bakery & Pizzeria Since 1976, this family-friendly restaurant has been serving up one-of-a-kind sauce and meat free pizzas on a thin, sourdough crust. Try their take-and-bake pizza and finish baking at home for the irresistible smell to fill up your kitchen.
Jackie’s Looking for the Bay area’s best fried chicken and soul food? Look no further. Originally from Texas, Jackie pays homage to the Lone Star state with customer favorites such as Uncle Greg’s ribs and JP’s Chicken & Waffles served up in true Texan style... HUGE.
Z Zoul Cafe When owners Aref and Dalia and their four children immigrated to San Francisco in 2016, they discovered no authentic Sudanese restaurants in the city. Using generations-old and passed-down family recipes, Z Zoul Cafe was born—be sure to try Dalia’s famous rice pudding.
Sonoma Crust Every item is made from scratch with Chef Anne’s vision to be a “flavor pusher”. Waffle sandwiches and chicken tenders are the name of the game here to be washed down with multiple options of iced tea but leave room for the beignets!
MB’s Place Award-winning “3 Way” Chili awaits you at MB’s place along with filet mignon burgers and smoked chicken meatball sandwiches—is your mouth watering yet?!
Tastebuds San Francisco natives Melvin and Helen Simmons’ cafe serves up soul food in this family-owned restaurant where chicken and waffles and southern shrimp and grits will have your tastebuds begging for more!
Black Owned Dessert & Coffee Shops in the Bay Area
The Giving Pies Not only does this business make some of the best pies in town (they even come in TINY sizes!), but they also contribute a portion of their profits to E-Sports, a program that partners typical and special needs kids in athletic capacities.
DeeLee Cakes The inspiration behind Chef DeReath Times’ creations comes from the memory of her Grandma and a heavy dose of her secret family ingredient… love. Her cinnamon rolls and sweet potato pound cake will blow your socks off!
Yvonne’s Southern Sweets Yvonne started out by sharing praline treats with friends and co-workers and expanded to cakes, cookies, and pies which led to a contract with Super Bowl 50, and is currently a vendor for the Chase center.
Sextant Coffee Roasters Partnering with farms in Ethiopia, Kenya and Colombia, first-generation Ethiopian founder Kinani Ahmed brings the best coffee beans from Africa to San Francisco.
James and the Giant Cupcake Using fresh and sustainable ingredients from farmers’ markets, Eurydice Manning’s custom cupcakes and cakes are all the rage at three locations in the Oakland area.
Rasa Cafe Rasa in Sanskrit means "flavor" and this cafe uniquely blends influences from Africa with India in their coffee and tea menu—try the award-winning Rose latte!
Pietisserie Pietisserie focuses on one thing and one thing alone: PIES. With fifteen toothsome pies to choose from, your dilemma comes down to this: key lime pie or black bottom walnut pie?!
Super Juiced A queer- and Black-owned smoothie and acai bowl shop, the menu at Super Juiced is seasonal and draws organic ingredients from small, local farms. All their nut milks are made in-house making this the place to go for a delicious (and nutritious) snack in Oakland.
Black Owned Services We Love in the Bay Area
Kutz and Colors Barbershop & Hair Salon When not delivering quality haircuts, owner “KC” is a basketball coach for at-risk youth and is in the process of fundraising for a community sports complex for all to play safely in.
The Pilates School SF With a goal of creating strong and balanced bodies, co-owners Ray and Rae started this school to make affordable, quality classical pilates accessible for everyBODY.
Megah Brown’s Skilled at cutting any type of hair, talented barber Damion Hunter commands a cult-like following of customers in his store with his casual, relaxed atmosphere and easy conversation. Bonus: he’s great with kids, too!
Strictly Braids Beyond a braid salon, owner Ninja also offers classes on braiding so everyone can learn intricate hair braiding.
Bikes4Life Offering repairs and sales, Bikes 4 Life is the only Black-owned bike shop in Oakland and has been around for ten years serving the community.
Eagles center Jason Kelce’s wife, Kylie, will be 38 weeks pregnant on the day of the Super Bowl—so she’s bringing two OB-GYNs just in case
For Jason Kelce, the star center for the Philadelphia Eagles, the Super Bowl is going to be a family affair. During a recent episode of the podcast he shares with his brother, New Heights with Jason and Travis Kelce, Jason laughed as they described the upcoming “Kelce Bowl,” since he plays for the Eagles, and Travis plays for the Kansas City Chiefs. The two teams are set to square off on Feb. 12.
“Are mom and dad sitting on your sideline? Are they sitting on my sideline?” Jason joked.
Travis replied, “We do have to figure that out because we each get a certain amount of tickets, and I feel like you’re going to have more of a family-oriented thing.”
That’s certainly true—Jason went on to explain that he’s bringing Kylie and her parents, plus their two daughters, 3-year-old Wyatt and 22-month-old Elliotte Ray. But because the couple is currently expecting their third baby, they’ll have a couple of important, special guests in their cheering section.
As Kylie confirmed to PEOPLE magazine, she’ll be bringing, not one but both of her OB-GYNS to the game. “They’re both my OBs on a regular basis, but I didn’t necessarily want one to be by themselves. All hands on deck.”
She went on to say that the discussion over a potential Eagles’ Super Bowl appearance began back in the fall when the team was in the middle of an eight-game winning streak. “They were undefeated then, and we just had a moment of, ‘Hypothetically speaking, the due date lines up very well with a Super Bowl date. If we happen to need to discuss that, would someone be open to coming with me?’ ” Kylie said.
“And of course, they were very understanding of the situation and said, ‘Of course, hypothetically speaking’ that someone would be able to accompany us.” (Who would turn that down, after all?)
“Apparently Wyatt is pretty pumped about the Eagles win last night too,” he wrote in the caption. “Woke up to her singing the entire fight song this morning in her crib.”
Get ready to glide down snowy winter hills with your family at these great Seattle-area sledding and snow tubing spots
After some recent epic snowfall, we’re guessing Seattle families can count on the snow in the mountains all winter long, whether they come for a quick day visit or stay to rent a winter cabin. If you didn’t get enough snow play recently, there are more than a few sweet spots near Seattle where you can take your kids snow tubing and sledding. From groomed tubing runs and gently sloping sledding hills to snow play areas, here’s where Seattle families can continue getting in on one of winter’s best pastimes.
1. Summit Tubing Park at The Summit at Snoqualmie
The Summit Tubing Center is snow tubing at its picture-perfect best. It's where Seattle families can find over 20 individual lanes (during peak season) of groomed snow on gently sloped hills the length of a football field. Commercial-grade tubes and a conveyor belt tow make your ascent back to the top effortless. This year, your timed tubing ticket for this winter wonderland of fun is good for a one-hour, 45-minute session, which is plenty of time to frolic and tire the kids out. Tickets are being released slowly this year and will sell out fast, so get yours while you can.
Insider Tip: Tickets must be purchased online; no walk-ups are allowed. Everyone in your tubing group will need a signed Tubing Liability Release, which must be completed electronically during ticket checkout.
Dates: Open through mid-March Cost: $45/adults, $18/children, 44" or shorter (must be purchased with adult ticket)
Summit Tubing Park (S.E. corner of the Summit Central main parking lot) 1001 Route 906 Snoqualmie Pass, WA Online:summitatsnoqualmie.com
2. Hyak Sno-Park
When it comes to nearby snow parks, Hyak tops the list of where to sled near Seattle. With glorious, groomed sledding hills and a drive that kids can totally handle, it's easy to see why families spend hours playing here whenever they get the chance. The sledding hill is open for the 2022-23 season and will be groomed Wednesdays through Mondays, twice on weekends. Just remember your passes. You'll need a Sno-Park day permit, as well as your Discover Pass to get into the park, but you can stay as long as you want once you're there. Be sure to bring your own everything, too (food, water, sleds, tubes) because potties are the only amenities offered here.
Insider Tip: If Hyak is a bit too crowded, consider nearby alternatives off I-90 like Gold Creek Sno-Park, Crystal Springs, or even Katchess, if you're willing to branch out beyond sledding (building snow people can be just as much fun). Planning your snow play during the week is another great way to avoid the crowds.
Good to Know: No sled? No problem. You can rent one from the REI Snoqualmie Rentals Outpost on the way up to Hyak. Reserve your gear online in advance or simply walk-up to rent sleds or snowshoes.
Dates: Currently open Cost: $25/one-day permit, $12/one-day Discovery Pass
3. Lt. Michael Adams Tubing Park & Golf Course Sledding
The winter wonderland of Leavenworth does not disappoint when it comes to snow play or snow tubing in Seattle. Families can keep it formal with the tubing runs at the Lt. Michael Adams Tubing Park, locally known as the Leavenworth Tubing Hill, or crush that casual vibe sledding. With your tubing ticket, you'll get six sweet runs on the 100-foot-long tubing hill (tubes provided), complete with a tow-rope ride to the top. Remember to save time in line and bring your Tubing Waiver with you. Sledding at the golf course is pretty much BYO. so grab your sled (those with metal runners are not allowed) and spend the day gliding over the hills. The best part of either day? Grabbing hot cocoa and a snack to-go from the Ski Hill Lodge. This is one of the hottest tickets in town, and tickets have been selling out by 3:30 p.m. After 3 p.m. call 509-548-5477 to see about availability. Take note, unlike other tubing hills, this one is in-person ticket purchasing only.
Insider tip: The tubing hill is recommended for kids ages 8 and up, but those as young as 4 can still have fun. They just need to be able to ride safely and independently, and follow verbal and/or written instructions.
Enjoy the beauty of Lower Mill Valley when you bring the kids to the groomed Seattle area sledding hill at the Stevens Pass Nordic Center (about 5 miles east of Stevens Pass). Bring your own sleds or tubes and plan to stay as long as your little snow bunnies will last before they need to warm up at the nearby Cascade Depot. There's also a snow play area here, so feel free to throw snowballs and build snowpeople when the kids need a change of pace.
If you want to couple a winter weekend getaway with your snow play, Suncadia Resort is the place to do it. Not only can visitors enjoy the tubing hill, but they can also work on their sweet skating moves at the picturesque ice skating rink on the property (you'll need a reservation for both). They've also got a whole universe of adventure with everyone in mind, including axe throwing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and snowmobile tours that don't require a stay. The best part? This snow-scape play place is less than two hours from Seattle.
Looking to make your tubing day totally epic? Head out of town to White Pass. No need to make a reservation. This spot is first-come, first-served, and the hour-and-a-half sessions will give you plenty of time to wear the kids out snow tubing on the hill. While you can BYO tube, no sleds or toboggans (think: wood, plastic, or metal) are allowed. This is a weekend-only activity after Jan. 1, so make the most of it with an overnight stay and maybe a few runs on the slopes or a twilight snowshoe tour before you head back to Seattle.
Insider tip: Looking for an all-out snow festival? Think ahead and plan to attend the White Pass Winter Carnival on March 4, 2023. We're talking about a huge snow castle for kids to tube on, snow sculptures, live music, and fireworks that will light up the night.
Located just 17 miles from Port Angeles in Olympic National Park, Hurricane Ridge boasts a small skiing and snowboarding area plus a fun walk-up tubing run and views that are hard to beat. If you've got kids ages 8 and under, you'll want to BYO sled to the Small Children's Snow Play Area right next to the visitor's center to make the most of your snow day. Riders make their way down the hill on tubes provided by Hurricane Ridge at no extra charge. The runs operate on a first-come, first-served basis—if there's room, you can start your run. If the hill is at capacity, you will be given a time to return. Be sure to check weather and road conditions online or by phone at 360-565-3131 before you head up. And fill out the liability form before you arrive. The National Park charges an entrance fee of $30 per car, or you can purchase a yearly pass for $55. Have a fourth grader? Get into the national park for free.
Insider Tip: The road generally opens to uphill traffic at 9 a.m. and closes to uphill traffic at 4 p.m. All cars must be down the hill by 5 p.m.
Hurricane Ridge Visitor's Center 3002 Mount Angeles Rd. Port Angeles, WA Online:hurricaneridge.com
8. Paradise Visitor's Center on Mt. Rainier
Editor's Note: This location is closed for the 2022-23 season
If you're looking for a snowy paradise for Seattle sledding, look no further than the snowplay area at the Paradise Visitor's Center on Mt. Rainier. The area opens based on snowfall, and families can usually expect to enjoy the mountain snow from mid-December through mid-March. This winter wonderland is a DIY-ers delight as it's ok to bring your own tubes and sleds (only soft/flexible sleds and saucers are allowed; no hard runner sleds or true toboggans) for hours of unlimited play. Our favorite part? All fourth graders plus their families can get their free park pass by going to the Every Kid Outdoors website and following the instructions. If you don't have a fourth grader, you'll need a park pass to visit.
Insider tip: All cars are required to carry chains in winter while in the park. Be sure to check the status of road and avalanche conditions before leaving home.
Mount Rainier National Park Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise Paradise Rd. E. Paradise, WA Online:nps.gov/mora/planyourvisit
If it snows in Seattle…There’s nothing quite like a full day of snow-bound play to make all the comforts of home and family so delightful. If we get snow in the city, be sure to try these local golf courses available for snow play: Jackson Park, Jefferson Park, Interbay, and West Seattle.
