What Super Bowl Food Choices To Consider For Party

Eating during the Super Bowl can become an all-day marathon of savory appetizers, hot foods, and luscious desserts, not to mention high-calorie frosty drinks that are part of the day. The game kicks off near dinner time. However, by that time, many already have downed a meal of snacks. Half-time means another huddle around the buffet. When the game ends late in the evening, few can resist munching on leftovers or dessert.

The following diversionary tactics provide the “feel” of snacking, but cut down on the penalties suffered later.

• Lighten nachos with reduced-fat cheese and baked chips.
• Replace a cheese tray with a fruit tray or with pita bread and hummus.
• Make a pot of vegetarian chili or use ground turkey instead of ground beef.
• Order pizza without the cheese and pile on extra veggies.
• Offer diet soda and non-alcoholic beer and, of course, have a designated driver available.
• Pop low-fat microwave popcorn and set it out in bowls.
• Include apple halves or carrot sticks as finger food.
• Replace sour cream in dips with plain yogurt.
• Eat baked pretzels rather than fried chips.

As the day progresses, most people spend a lot of time sitting, holding the TV remote. At half-time or before kick-off, add some physical exercise by getting the group out on the front yard to toss around a football.

TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the original, nonprofit weight-loss education and support organization, recently celebrated 60 years of weight-loss support and success. Founded and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wis, TOPS promotes successful weight management with a philosophy that combines healthy eating, regular exercise, wellness education, and support from others at weekly chapter meetings. TOPS has nearly 180,000 members in almost 7,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada, and several chapters in Europe.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge. To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677 for more information.