Strong4Life: Score a Healthier Super Bowl Sunday!

For about a nanosecond after last week’s Falcon’s loss, our family vowed to not watch the Super Bowl. By the time the Falcons left the locker room though, my boys were already begging for a Super Bowl party! The hype, the ads and now the family angle—with the Harbaugh brothers coaching opposing teams—The Super Bowl has special appeal to my competitive boys. While game day gatherings are festive, fun and fanatical, they are also filled with food and beverages that should be flagged!

Did you know that Super Bowl Sunday is the second-largest food consumption day in the U.S., right after Thanksgiving? Crazy, right? That’s why parents should establish some family-friendly guidelines for the big day. Here are some ofStrong4Life’s Family Friendly Super Bowl Tips:

1. Tackle Your Pre-Game Appetite - Kickoff isn’t until 6:30pm, so there’s no reason to skip any meals. Serve your family breakfast, lunch and dinner so they fill up on healthy foods and are less tempted by snacks later.

2. Get Off the Sidelines – Remind your armchair athletes that their football super heroes rose to gridiron greatness by being active and fueling their bodies with healthy food (well, most of them, anyway). So go out and throw the ball around the day of the Super Bowl, simulate some “Training Camp” activities for the kids or try our Strong4Life Super Bowl Challenge to keep your kids active during the game:

• First Quarter – At kick-off, have your kids  jog around the room
• Second Quarter – After the first score, have the kids do 4 sit-ups
• Third Quarter – After the first third down, have the kids do 4 jumping jacks
• Fourth Quarter – During the first commercial break, have your kids jog in place for the duration of one commercial

3. Step In With Healthy Substitutions – Score healthy eating points with simple, yet yummy ingredient substitutions (ex: like Greek yogurt instead of sour cream) when you’re preparing your Super Bowl party spread. Check out Strong4Life’s better-for-you game day favorites like a “Super Bowl” of 3 Bean Chili, veggie pizza or quick and easy snack ideas.

4. Sack Sugary Beverages - Just because it’s The Super Bowl doesn’t mean I still don’t believe sweet drinks are just “liquid candy.” Have plenty of water on hand for the kids because they shouldn’t be drinking sugary juices or sodas (even if you choose to drink them during the game). Add some pizzazz to the water by adding slices of fruit.

If you think about it, we parents are the coaches of our own families and when we guide them toward healthier choices—no matter what the occasion—we make everyone on our team a winner in the quest for good health.

Enjoy the game!

Strong4Life is a movement created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to address the childhood obesity medical crisis that is threatening nearly one million kids in Georgia. For information about Strong4Life visit our website, Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, and Strong4Life Blog.