Super Bowl snaking can be a postive thing
Throwing New Year’s resolutions to the wind and eating everything in sight tends to creep up on all Super Bowl enthusiasts, but it shouldn’t.
Brooke Parker, a registered dietitian at the Student Wellness Center, said that shouldn’t be the way it works.
“The Super Bowl is just like other holidays where you eat a lot and lounge around,” she said.
Parker explained that most holidays are horrible for those trying to stay healthy. Days like Christmas and Thanksgiving tend to be breeding ground for unhealthy habits. Combining lots of food, laziness and, in the case of the Super Bowl, the Sunday atmosphere makes it tough to stay healthy.
“We eat a ton and sit around and usually feel horrible by the end of the day,” she said.
Living healthy isn’t nearly as tough as most people try to make it.
“It is important to not lose control and remember to use common sense,’ Parker said.
She said it is living a simple 90/10 plan. People should spend 90 percent of the time trying to eat healthy and 10 percent being more laid back.
“If you try to go extreme with anything it will bomb,” Parker said. “Knowing you can relax and eat ‘normally’ some of the time means you can just sit back and say, ‘I am going to eat whatever I want and love it.'”
She recommended a very simple exercise program as well, working out 30 minutes a day on most days of the week alternating between aerobic and strength training.
“It doesn’t all have to be at the same time either,” she said. “A 10-minute walk up the hill to school will work for leg strength and a cardio workout.”
Following are some tips provided by the Student Wellness Center for staying healthy during this Super Bowl Season.
• Drink plenty of water – six to eight glasses. Water is calorie-free and helps you feel full.
• Fruits and vegetables – They are packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber and are often low in calories. These foods also help in feeling full fast.
• Have fun with food, just focus on smaller portions.
• For snack attacks, choose crunchy, low-calorie food like popcorn, apples, pretzels or vegetables.
• Reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol is high in calories, slows metabolism and stimulates appetite.
• Plan an activity of your own that day such as playing in the snow, going for a walk, yoga or anything else that will keep you busy.
• There are no good or bad foods, just portion sizes.
• Make choices and choose only those foods you really want.
• Focus on the people and the game, not just the food.
• Create a distance from food. Sit far enough away that it is not a temptation.
The Wellness Center also supplied some healthy Super Bowl recipe ideas:
• English Muffin Pizza – Top English muffin with a layer of spaghetti sauce. Add toppings and cheese, going light on the cheese. Broil in the oven until the cheese melts.
• Hot Bean Dip – Mix refried beans, salsa and green chilies in a bowl. Heat in microwave.
• Homemade Totilla Chips – Slice flour tortilla into wedges. Bake at 425 degrees until desired crispness.
• Kabobs – Stack pieces of your favorite fruits on a skewer and dip in flavored yogurt.
• Sprinkle spices or parmesan cheese on plain popcorn.
• Use non-fat or low-fat sour creams to make dips.
For more information call 797-1010 or visit the Student Wellness Canter between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.