Sunday is the big day, SUPERBOWL SUNDAY Sadly, my team the Patriots will not be playing this year but neither is my husband’s team, the Giants so the trash talking will be kept to a dull roar…. The game is a great time to get together with family and friends, watch some good football and kick back and relax. The key is to not let he game week havoc with your diet and still have fun. Hmm, isn’t that the premise of YOUR FOREVER DIET?
FYI
On average, Americans will consume 11.2 million pounds of potato chips during the game!!!
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Wow, that is a lot of chips!
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
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TIPS FOR A HEALTHY SUPERBOWL:
Do not starve yourself prior to the game with the thought that you will save extra calories for later. Research has shown that eating a light snack with a good balance of protein and carbohydrate prior to the party will help deter from getting there and being so hungry you eat everything in sight. Feeling satisfied when you get there will allow you to sample the things you really want in moderation and walk away from the table before you overdo it. Don’t waste calories on food you can have anytime.
Get in a good WORKOUT earlier in the day! This will help burn some calories and keep you in your normal routine.
Try not to drink too many calories during the party. Lite beer is an obvious choice over regular beer but do not forget the calories obtained from soda, juice or other caloric beverages. Calorie-free flavored seltzer and water can be more interesting than plain water. ALTERNATING SELTZER OR WATER with an alcoholic beverage or soda is a great way to dilute out your calories (always start with water) Another advantage to consuming seltzer or water is that it fills you up and may help decrease snacking.
Eat off a smaller plate and DO NOT STAND OR SIT NEAR THE FOOD!!!! Enough said…. Mindless munching will get you every time.
Bring a HEALTHY DISH to the game, something you like to munch on and can share with others. Tip - bring a large serving – Often these dishes are very popular.
HEALTHY SNACKS TO BRING TO THE PARTY
VEGGIES AND DIP: Make it interesting, not just your basic carrots and celery. Chop up some colored peppers, mushrooms, cucumbers and cauliflower. Humus is a great low fat/high fiber dip. Add a little zing by tossing some black beans into your humus and extra garlic! Guacamole and salsa are both tasty and nutritious dips to pair with veggies and whole wheat crackers.
CHILI; De-fat the meat you add to your chili by rinsing the meat under warm water (in a colander) after cooking. This washes off a ton of fat. It will not impact taste because you will season after you rinse.
LAYERED TACO DIP: This is a family favorite at the Gallo house and does not have to be a calorie bomb. Using baked tortilla chips saves on fat and calories as does substituting plain greek yogurt for the sour cream. . Read the label on the can of re-fried beans and avoid brands that contain lard and be sure to use part skim varieties of cheese.
TACO CHICKEN: Another hit with my guys. SO SIMPLE yet tasty and incredibly versatile. Simply place boneless chicken breasts or thighs in the crock pot, add a jar of salsa, and cook on low for several hours until you can shred. I usually add some Trader Joes roasted frozen corn and rinsed black beans. Toss some shredded part skim cheese on top for the last 10 minutes. Once the meat is done, you can add to your taco dip or use as the base of tacos or quesidillas. DELICIOUS!
CUT UP FRUIT BOWL or KABOBS: This is especially nice to have at this time of the year when many people don’t think to have a variety of fruit on hand.
These are only a handful of ideas to help you have a healthy Superbowl. The key is to BE PREPARED!
ENJOY THE GAME!
To your health – Noreen Gallo MSRD
