Myth: There’s no way to eat sensibly during a Super Bowl party.

Answer: BUSTED!

According to Wikipedia, Super Bowl game day is the 2nd largest day for food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving. Not exactly a recipe for making healthy food choices. Why do we eat so much on this day? It might be due to the kind of foods we traditionally make for this fun event – high fat and high calorie foods. It also may be because we are watching TV. ‘Mindless’ eating may lead you to eat more than you would if you weren’t watching TV.

Below are some tips to help you transform your Super Bowl party. Try this instead of that…

Hummus with pita chips & veggies

• Try baked chips instead of regular potato chips. Another idea is to take 100% whole wheat pita bread, cut it into triangles and bake in the oven to make your own healthy chips.
• Ditch the chips and cut up fresh veggies with dip. Or try this Avocado and Tomatillo Dip
• Instead of high-fat dip for your baked chips or fresh veggies serve hummus or salsa.

How you eat also influences how much you eat. Try these tips to change your food environment on game day:

• Keep food packages and platters in the kitchen. You’ll need to get up from your comfortable seat and get more food when you’re hungry. If the food is right in front of you, you’re more likely to eat it.
• Think about portions for food. Take your foot-long sub and cut it into smaller portions. Serve yourself one portion and bring it back to your seat. Want more? You’ll need to get up and get another portion from the kitchen if you’re still hungry.
• Think about portions for snacks. Keep bowls of chips or other snack foods in the kitchen. Serve yourself a small amount. Then go back to the TV. You’ll have to get up and get more from the kitchen when you’re ready for more.

Go to Missourifamilies.org for more information about how to make healthy food choices and become more active.

Contributor: Ellen Schuster, M.S., R.D., Associate State Specialist, University of Missouri Extension, schusterer@missouri.edu, 573-882-1933