With Super Bowl Sunday in site, the time is now to start preparing for the overabundance of snacks for your football party. Nonetheless, why not make a few changes to some of your favorite party food recipes to make them healthier and more figure-friendly this Sunday?
By following these strategies below you will literally cut thousands of calories:
1.) Get Naked: Replace all buns or breading for sandwiches with a lettuce wrap alternative to slash calories, stabilize blood sugar, and boost fiber and macronutrient intake.
2.) Keep Hydrated: Drink a minimum of two to four cups of water before eating AND an additional one-two cups every 15-30 minutes after you start eating to fill your stomach and prevent overeating that can trigger dehydration.
3.) Eliminate Empty Calories: Minimize or eliminate all fruit juices, regular sodas and alcohol. Instead drink water, tea, or low calorie/carb beverage to leave more room for whole food choices that have more nutritional value.
4.) Do not fast in preparation for a feast as it will turn body into a famished body fat-storing machine the next time you eat. Resulting in low blood sugar levels that accompany not eating for four hours or more and will make you crave junk foods high in both refined sugars and fat.
5.) Replace Everything White with Brown (Or Even Better…GREEN!)
6.) Focus on consuming lean proteins and fruits and veggies first. Use these in unlimited amounts as needed to fill you up and best prevent the typical party “killshot”
7.) Never eat directly out of the bag or community bowl and use smaller plates to place your food on while limiting yourself to a pre-set plate total (e.g. four plate maximum during a three hour game).
8.) Eliminate Gold and Go Green: Opt for guacamole over cheese for you salads and chips. Guacamole is high in heart healthy monounsaturated fats, low in saturated fats and also has a ton of fiber that will keep you full to prevent overeating. Cheese can be a super food in moderation, you can easily overeat when mixed with sources of refined carbs like pizza and white chips.
9.) Replace Flour with Protein Powder: Few people out there understand that protein powder makes a great substitute for flour to use for baking or cooking (e.g. protein cookies). The addition of protein and lowering of carbs will boost your metabolism.
10.) 20 Chews: Eat slowly and let your body process your food. By requiring a certain number of chews before you swallow your brain will have enough time to trigger the “I’m full” sign (e.g. 20 chews)
Tyler English, NASM-PES, CPT is a Professional Natural Bodybuilder. He is a local Simsbury fitness boot camp instructor and real world fat loss expert. To book him to speak at your local Simsbury company, club, or organization please contact him by email at farmingtonvalleybootcamp@
