Super Bowl Sunday has become the second biggest day for food consumption
in the US, just behind Thanksgiving Day! Will you be joining the more
than 100 million Americans tuning into the Super Bowl this year? If so,
beware of the food and drinks that can sabotage all of the progress you’ve
made setting healthy goals for the New Year.
Here are some tips from Renee Greene, Wellness Dietition at CVMC’s
Health First Center, for heart healthy eating on game day:
- Get a game plan: Plan to eat smaller, more frequent meals that day, rather
than taking the starve all day and stuff all night approach. Skipping
meals leads to overeating.
- Play fair: Bring a healthy appetizer to the party, so that there is at
least one nutritious option. Bring veggies and hummus or multi-grain tortilla
chips and guacamole for a lower calorie, high fiber snack.
- Pass on the extra calories: High calorie, high fat culprits include pizza,
nachos, and chips and dip. Order a thin crust pizza with veggies and light
cheese and half the meat toppings. And offer bean-based chips or pita
chips with salsa.
- Cheers to good health: Beer and mixed drinks can add over 500 calories
to your game day without notice. Drink water or unsweetened or lightly
sweetened tea. If you do drink alcohol, keep track of your calories. Try
ultra light beer which contains as low as 55 calories vs. 150 calories
found in regular beer.
- Scan the field: Before fixing yourself a plate, assess the food options.
Take small portions of a variety of food groups. Then, during commercials,
regroup. What have you eaten? Mindless eating can lead to eating more
chicken wings than you thought! Pace yourself; if you go back for seconds,
choose low-calorie options like vegetables or fruit.
It’s time to take your health to heart! Get your Total Cholesterol,
HDL (good cholesterol), LDL (bad cholesterol), Triglycerides and Blood
Glucose checked at one of the Health First Center’s
Heart Check Profile – Cholesterol Screenings. Take a FREE Heart Smart Nutrition Class where you’ll learn how
to eat a well-balanced diet that is low in cholesterol, saturated fat
and sodium, while promoting a health weight and lifestyle. Classes are
offered monthly. Contact 828.326.2400 for registration, class times and
additional information.