HOW TO BEAT SUPERBOWL SUNDAY!!

So the best Sunday of all is just days away. Whether you are holding your own Super Bowl party or heading out I am sure the spreads will be massive! But before we get started I have to say, I lived in the Pacific Northwest for almost my entire adult life and I'm a HUGE HAWKS fan, so GO HAWKS!!! The Super Bowl is one of the biggest calorie days Americans take part in. Most will consume an entire day’s worth of calories during the game alone. While those pro football players will be burning thousands of calories from the opening kickoff to the final whistle, Joe Schmooze from sea to shining sea will be loading up their plates and stretching their stomachs with enough calories to leave most bathroom scales screaming for mercy.

Most experts say that on balance, a healthy person who succumbs to the seduction of beer, burgers, and chips on Super Bowl Sunday will barely cause a blip on their personal health-status screen. But for people who are insistent upon absolutely no backsliding in their commitment to scaling down their waistline and controlling their cholesterol, there's a game plan for them to follow, even while watching the biggest football game of the year.

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) recommends selecting fresh fruit, vegetables, baked chips, and pretzels when filling up your plate. If the party's at your house, offer entrees such as meatless chili or lean chicken strips. And for some sweet satisfaction in the fourth quarter, the ADA suggests angel food cake topped with low-fat frozen yogurt and chocolate syrup.

If you’re holding a party, give people choices. If all you’re serving is pizza, philly cheese steaks and hamburgers, that's what your guests will eat. But if you have some healthier choices as well, you'll give them some options. This goes for going to a party as well. If you know the food being served is going to be nothing but CALORIE BOMBS!! bring your own meat. I am positive the host will respect you for it.

While a submarine sandwich (with ham, salami, and cheese) has about 450 calories and 17 grams of fat, a typical low-fat hot dog on a reduced-calorie bun contains only 130 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. A slice of carrot cake with cream cheese icing has about 480 calories and 29 grams of fat, compared with a slice of angel food cake that will provide only about 70 calories and 0.2 grams of fat.

Don't worry, you can completely enjoy super bowl Sunday without blowing up your waistline and hard work. Be smart about what your serve and limit the amount of items you put out. If you put out 14 different types of chips and dips on the table, in all likely hood you and your guest will try all 14. Instead put out only a few (and serve baked chips) with salsa and a lower calorie spread like roasted eggplant, hummus as well as limit the fat laced dips like ranch and onion dip.

Be smart and enjoy your day and I am sure your body will thank you for it.

GREAT RECIPE IDEAS

Lemon-Drop Chicken Wings These spiked wings have a tangy lemon taste and are baked, not fried. Ingredients: Vodka, lemon juice, sugar, olive oil, chicken wings Calories: 173

Warm Spinach and Artichoke Dip Ingredients: Olive oil, lima beans, cream cheese, Tabasco sauce, capers, mustard, artichoke hearts, frozen spinach, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, green onions, lemon juice Calories: 59 White Bean Dip Mashing the white beans creates the same creamy consistency as sour cream–based dips. Ingredients: Cannellini beans, olive oil, garlic, sage Calories: 320 Zucchini Fries enjoy these crispy veggies for half the calories of regular french fries. Plus you'll get a boost of vitamin C. Ingredients: Zucchinis, eggs, milk, Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs Calories: 181 for 11 fries Mini Turkey Burgers These mini burgers make the perfect protein-packed finger foods. Ingredients: Garlic powder, ground turkey breast, Gorgonzola cheese, reduced-fat mayonnaise, gherkin pickles, dinner rolls, curly leaf lettuce Calories: 169 Twice Baked Sweet Potatoes Get a boost of beta-carotene and cut out much of the fat in traditional recipes with this shortcut to classic twice-baked potatoes. Ingredients: Sweet potatoes, Canadian bacon, sour cream, chives, shredded cheddar cheese Calories: 341 Beef and Beer Chili Cook a flavorful pot of chili in just 40 minutes for a quick, filling dinner. The recipe easily doubles if you're expecting more guests. Ingredients: Red onion, red bell pepper, extra lean ground beef, garlic, chili powder, cumin, sugar, oregano, kidney beans, diced tomatoes, beef broth, beer, yellow cornmeal, lime juice Calories: 261 So there you have all!! Enjoy a kick ass day and GO HAWKS!!!!!!