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Tackling Super Bowl

February 5, 2010

The Super Bowl is this coming Sunday! It’s the biggest game of the season and probably the most calorie-filled! To help you enjoy the big game without turning into a linebacker follow these nutritioulicious™ tips:

1) Skip the wings. Everyone loves chicken wings, but they’re high in fat from the skin and from being deep fried. They are also lower in protein than other chicken dishes. For a healthier option that’s actually easier to prepare, marinate chicken breast tenders in barbecue sauce, grill or bake, and serve with additional sauce on the side. Choose the sauce carefully — many BBQ sauces have high fructose corn syrup as one of the first ingredients. I like Bone Suckin’ Sauce or Annie’s Original BBQ Sauce.*

2) Lighten up the burgers. If you’re a burger fan, opt for turkey or veggie burgers — they’re leaner and can be just as delicious as regular burgers! Top them with caramelized onions, roasted peppers, or roasted tomatoes.

3) Snack smart. Chips are a staple that don’t need to be avoided. You just need to choose wisely and read the nutrition label. Frito-Lay snack chips like Tostitos are made with just 3 ingredients: corn, healthier oils such as corn and sunflower oils, and less salt per serving than a slice of bread! Plus they have no trans fats!**

4) Make a healthier dip. What goes better with chips than some dip? Chips are a great vehicle for getting in veggies and protein if you make the right kind of dip. Instead of all of those cheesy and creamy dips, opt for a veggie-rich salsa or some guacamole. Avocados contain the healthy mono- and polyunsaturated fats and contain nearly 20 vitamins and minerals, including antioxidants vitamins C and E, folate, potassium, and beta-carotene. You can also make other yummy side dishes and salads with Avocados from Mexico.

5) Drink wisely. It’s easy to fill up on drinks like beer and soda, so stock up on light beer, diet soda, and even wine for the best options. And don’t forget to hydrate! Have a glass of water between every drink — it will also help stave off that hangover the next day.

6) End on a sweet note. Rather than brownies and cake, serve some fruit with a twist. Instead of a regular fruit salad, grill some pineapple, poach pears, or bake apples. You can even jazz it up with a small scoop of low-fat ice cream or frozen yogurt.

*Note: I am not a spokesperson, nor do I consult or work for these products.
**Note: I am a media spokesperson for Frito Lay.

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  1. Thanks Jessica for the tips! I love grilled pineapple and baked apples, but I’ve tried poaching pears. Is it difficult? Have a great superbowl!

    Reply

    1. Hi Rachel! No problem, hope they were helpful. Poaching pears is pretty easy. The simplest way is using water, honey or sugar, and the pears, but you can also use red wine or apple cider and other spices (cinnamon, vanilla, etc). You heat the water (or other poaching liquid) and sugar or honey, until the sweetener is dissolved and the water comes to a boil. Peel and core the pears, leaving the stem intact. Place the pears into the water, reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 30 minutes or until soft but not falling apart. Remove the pears and refrigerate. You can then reduce the poaching liquid to a syrup consistency for a sauce.

      Have fun!

      Reply

  3. Chef Hymie Grande (www.chefhymiegrande.com ) is the first and only bottled BBQ sauce to carry the seal of the American Diabetes Association on the label. It has no high fructose corn syrup, no processed sugar, it is all natural and vegan friendly. It is produced at the Rutgers Food Innovation Center in Bridgton, NJ by Jamie Failtelson, a.k.a. Chef Hymie Grande of Carlstadt, NJ. 5% of proceeds go to the American Diabetes Association.

    Reply