Sunday February 3, 2013 is a very exciting day in the lives of many Americans. Beyonce is performing at the Super Bowl! Oh, and there is a football game too.
All joking aside, Super Bowl parties can lead high calorie snacking – and we all know what goes in must be WERQed off later. Here’s some tips and recipes to help you stay on track.
First and foremost, designate a time for eating, like eating only at halftime. People tend to consume more calories when they snack the entire game.
Instead of ordering pizza, try drizzling olive oil over a few pitas, wheat bagel halves or whole wheat English muffins. Top with organic tomato sauce and all your favorite veggies!
Replace chips and dip with whole wheat crackers or baby carrots and roasted red pepper hummus.
Decorate your table with platters of fresh fruits and raw veggies.
If you’re craving a salty crunch, try roasting chickpeas (garbanzo beans) in the oven. Rinse and drain them, dry on a paper towel, spread on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and cook for 45-60 minutes at 375 degrees. Remove and sprinkle with olive oil, cumin, marjoram and/or a spice blend. Serve hot or store in an air-tight container and they will keep for about 4 days.
For the meat eaters, try a turkey chili. Chili doesn’t have to be fancy to be delicious and nutritious. Throw some organic diced tomatoes and any and all canned beans you have at home in a crock pot with low-fat ground turkey. Spice with salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, chili powder and a hint of coriander.
And don’t forget the deviled eggs! Simply use fat free mayo to make your usual filling. Top with paprika.
To satisfy your sweet tooth, try making mini-sandwich bites using fresh cut strawberries and fat-free cream cheese on whole grain bread.
Serve fresh juices instead of sodas and of course if you’re WERQing hard and playing hard, go for low calorie cocktails in moderation.
~Blog post written by Julie Steffen, WERQ Master Trainer, Chicago Illinois and Kim “KC” Rickenbaker, WERQ Instructor, Summerville South Carolina.
