by Dr. Katie Baker, ND/LMP of Stone Turtle Health
posted 29 January 2014
Hawks, Broncos and a Bowl, oh my! Sunday, February 2nd, is time for touchdowns, tackles, and tight ends. It is time for football for everyone in Seattle – including here in Fremont. Check out the celebration going on at Nectar Lounge this Sunday, with its no cover price tag!
It’s true that our Seattle Seahawks stand ready to do us proud on the field this weekend, and bring home Super Bowl rings to flash around town (fingers crossed!) Here are ways to make viewing their win more fun – and healthy!
Stretch!
Get all those muscles nice and warm, before viewing. Stretch your large muscle groups (upper legs – front and back – calves, biceps and triceps, back muscles, and neck muscles) to improve circulation and prevent injury. Sitting on the couch through the whole game will take a toll. Get up and move around, grab another glass of water, and keep moving.
Snack!
Healthy snacks, like carrot sticks, orange slices, and peanut butter with crackers are perennial favorites. If you are hosting the Super Bowl party (Go HAWKS!!) at your place, consider health tailgating recipes provided on the Stone Turtle Health blog. Add a twist to plain old chips by making a mix of shredded cabbage, diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, vinegar, chopped cilantro and jalapenos to serve alongside. Buy baked chips this time too. Fruit plates, veggie trays with healthy dips like hummus, and chicken skewers instead of ribs and burgers are all great options to lower the fat and calories. Chili is great, especially made with chicken or turkey, but skip the sour cream, mountains of shredded cheese and bacon bits. Make ‘ranch’ dressing from 2 cups fat-free or low-fat mayo, 1 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon each of chopped chives and chopped flat-leaf parsley, 1 teaspoon each minced garlic and onion powder. Turkey or veggie burgers, hold the bun, baked sweet potato fries, beet chips are all staples for game time at my house, with recipes easy to find on-line.
Skip temptations!
Wondering whether to skip Super Bowl parties to avoid temptation? Consider these tips to kill the temptations instead:
- Eat before you go, so you don’t go overboard to fill an empty belly
- Avoid creamy dips (unless your host brags about using Greek yogurt instead of sour cream) and salty snacks
- Fill your plate with fruits and veggies
- Offer to bring a (healthy) treat that you can eat guilt-free
Drink!
Water, that is. The more well-hydrated you are, the less regret you will feel the day after – no matter how the game goes. Let’s be realistic. Lots of folks like a beer while they watch the game. If you’re going to drink alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver. Alternate each alcoholic drink with a large glass of water to avoid over-consumption (by filling up with water, you’ll be less inclined to drink more alcohol to satisfy your thirst mechanism, and a stomach full of water will also help to stop you from eating the whole bag of chips.) Know your limits. No one likes to deal with a drunk, at public sporting events or in private homes, so be aware of how much you’ve had.
Have fun!
Remember that these are Super Bowl parties. Have fun, spend time with friends and fellow fans. Enjoy – and Go HAWKS!!
About The Author: Dr. Katie Baker, a graduate of Bastyr University, practices naturopathic medicine at Stone Turtle Health. For more information, visit the Stone Turtle Health website and read her blog. Or, schedule an appointment at 206/355-4309.
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