8 Tips to a Healthy Super Bowl!!

8 Tips to having a Healthy Super Bowl!!  Go Pats!!

1. Instead of starving yourself all day to save calories, try to eat nutrient-dense, satisfying meals leading up to the Super Bowl party. This will prevent you from showing up starving and scarfing down everything in sight. One good decision can often feed into the next. Get the positive momentum building in your favor with a hearty bowl of Oatmeal with fresh berries, and also you can snack on nuts and seeds.
2. :  You are about to watch the most fit and agile athletes in the world make some amazing plays — use this as inspiration! You owe it to your teams to break a sweat of your own. For all you superstitious sports fans out there, think of this pre-game workout as good luck.
3. :  Water is important for everyone, not just professional athletes – drink plenty of water during the day. While watching the game, match every beverage you consume with at least 1 glass of water. This will not only help you manage the amount of empty liquid calories you consume in the form beverages, but will also reduce mindless munching!
4. :  Healthy eating is all about having a plan. When it comes to things like the Super Bowl, a good tip is to take matters into your own hands by bringing something of your own that’s healthy. Chili is a classic crowd pleaser and naturally boasts a satisfying trio of protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats as well as nutrient dense vegetables.  For an extra lean protein, try this Bison Chili recipe, or if you want to skip meat altogether, this Quick and Easy Veggie Chili is a great plant-strong option.

5. Outnumber:  In general, you know what to expect. There’s going to be dips, pizza, wings, chips, pretzels, deserts. Know your personal strengths and weaknesses so come up with a strategy that plays to your strengths. Head-to-head matchups are a great way to stay ahead of the game: “For every wing I have, I am going to eat three celery sticks.” If your healthy choices outnumber your not-so-healthy choices, you can walk away feeling proud.

1. :  Before you make a move and load your plate, assess your options. This is a great move to use in any family-style or buffet-style dining where you are overloaded with choices.
2. : Use commercials, time outs, and breaks between quarters to regroup. What have you eaten? Are you comfortably satisfied or uncomfortably full? Sounds like a silly question, but eating while watching a game can make it extremely easy to mindlessly munch. Use the natural structure and pauses of the football game to set your pace and take a moment to self-reflect.
3. It’s the Super Bowl! Of course, you are going to eat something that you don’t normally eat on a regular basis, and that’s totally fine. The key to indulging without any residual guilt or going completely overboard is to indulge mindfully. Be proactive, identify what you want to splurge on, and make it a SMART indulgence (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely). Eyeing up those wings? Great, then go for it! But before you down a dozen, slow down, be present, and focus on eating with all your senses. Eating mindfully will not only heighten the experience and increase your overall satisfaction, but will also allow you to enjoy more, of less.