Survive the Superbowl! (Fix approved)

Well, my Patriot loving husband is one happy camper. Me, a closet Cowboys fan, was really hoping for a Pats/ Cowboy lineup, but whatever it’s cool. They are the two most hated teams according to a prestigiously orchestrated ESPN poll. Anyway. I digress. How does a Fitness Coach approach such a momentous occasion?

With a plan.

This post is not only going to be my menu, but also my tips on cutting out some of the added fat/ calories that often get associated with Superbowl Parties. Anytime we ‘tailgate’ it has the potential to add some serious bloat and unnecessary yuckiness. I have a few tricks up my sleeve and I want to share them with you. Are you ready Pats fans/haters (you really only fall into ONE of those categories)? Strap on your note taking skills, grab a pen and some paper, and get ready to plan.

 

The Plan (option a)

It really is that simple. If the party is at your house, great, you are in control. Keep reading- if not, see option b. So when you have a party that is based on the idea of food, and usually a really unhealthy assortment of food, it’s best to know who you will be feeding. This year, it’s just my husband and our close family because they will not judge his reaction to the game. (Note: “This is why we can’t have nice friends” would be an excellent blog.) So I am not making a ton of food for a lot of people, I am making a ton of food for a few people. Typically, people may order out, buy a few dips and call it good. Not this girl. No, this girl has to go all out. How do I go all out while keeping it ‘skinny’? Balance. See below:

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Basically, what I do is make sure that I have a few options in at least a few of the food categories so there are equal amounts of healthy options to non healthy options. All of the foods can mix and match. They are still Superbowl-y and they all scream GO PATS. Well, maybe not. I promise all you 21% haters from the 378 sample sized poll done by ESPN that you will also enjoy the above food.

 

The plan (option b, meaning byo)

If the party is at someone else’s house, great, you byof (bring your own food). Now, chances are your host(ess) will have some foods you can pick from and feel totally cool with. Chances are they will not have anything to do with veggies. My recommendation? BYOV (don’t get dirty, it’s bring your own veggies). Cut up some of your faves, throw together (or buy) a guacamole, grab a container of hummus, and show up bearing your

 

The Advice

  1. Pick my one vice. Clam dip would be my vice. I’m going to eat it. I’m going to measure it out, and I’m going to enjoy it. But only after I:
  2. Portion my plate. First thing’s first: I will fill my plate with 35% veggies, 30% protein, 20% carbs, and 15% fats. Now you can do this another way… you can take a small plate and fill it with veggies to start (take a little bit of that homemade yogurt ranch for good measure). Then go back for another serving, hit up your protein. Then go back for your mix of fat and carbs. That way, you have the best tasting stuff for last and if you go back, you have to go straight to the veggies.
  3. Plan your time. Looking at the above portion method, there are two time options: All at once (big plate method) or timed out (small plate method). Either one works, but know what type of eater you are. I will do the small plate method because I like the taste of food. So I will go for celery, carrots, and cukes first, then I will go for wings, then I will go for corn chips and guac. I will get hungry later and I will go with the pulled chicken, ribs and slaw. I will end my night with PORTIONED chips and clam dip.
  4. Mix up your drinks. Wine. Water. Punch, Water. Wine. Water. (Do you see the pattern? Good, we are done here.)
  5. Leftovers. Put the leftovers away as soon as you can, but leave out the veggies. If people want to keep munching, they will need to either dig or pick at what’s left out.

 

If you have a plan, you are less likely to fail and wake up Monday morning full of regret for overeating. Or joy because your beloved (or behated) Patriots won or lost.

Claire Pelletier

About Claire Pelletier

I'm 30. Boy am I 30. I have three children: Shelby (almost 8), Harper (3), and Aidan (1). I work full time as an English teacher, full time as a mom, part time as a wife, part time as a cook at a Diner (this is actually a paid position), and a per diem house cleaner. Basically, I do it all. Oh and I like to write (revert back to my full time teaching position). This life is crazy, people are even crazier, and online blogging has given me a voice. Some may think it's a loud and obnoxious voice, but I kind of like it. I do my best to write about things that interest people, mainly about myself. Sometimes I verge into the political land, but that place scares me, so I mostly write about every day things that make me laugh, cry, or scream. Thanks for reading!