Eating Healthy for the Holiday Sports Fan
By Stephen R. Farris
With the holiday season upon us, every die-hard sports fan knows what this time of year means. No, it's not getting your favorite sports team's sweater or hat, it's the smorgasbord of food we look forward to eating while relaxing in our easy chair or chilling on the couch watching the endless variety of games on television.
You can bet for the average fan fanatic the food will consist of chips, dips, sauce-laden chicken wings, juicy brisket, all those desserts -- cake, cookies, pudding and ice cream -- that go with it and of course, alcoholic beverages to add more calories to our unhealthy spread.
The problem is -- besides trying to clog your arteries -- trying to fit back into our regular clothes and going back to work after the New Year because most of that time will be spent lounging around in our comfy sweatpants and T-shirts or hoodies. We could care less about putting on jeans, slacks and dress shirts.
However, instead of setting aside your healthy lifestyle goals for a period of "guilty pleasure," you can still snack and minimize your caloric intake at the same time.
Time to Audible
You can still eat healthy and have some of your favorite food items. Try substituting that huge bowl of greasy potato chips for a nice garden salad. You can add fresh bacon crumbles into it, along with some sliced boiled eggs and maybe some skinless chunked pieces of grilled chicken. It can also be a meal in itself and will have much fewer calories than your normal game day snack.
Making the Home Fans Happy and Healthy
There's no doubt the grill will come into play during holiday game festivities. Why not try something different than ribs and shredded pork on the grill. Sure, you can still do beef and chicken, but add some veggies into your culinary playbook to go with them. Maybe some bell peppers, tomatoes and broccoli florets can all be tasty grilled. Try substituting sweet potatoes for regular potatoes. Grilled asparagus is delicious as well.
Coming in Off the Bench
If your fridge is filled with alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine, opt for the non-alcoholic variety. Most of your major brands offer non-alcoholic substitutes that offer the same flavor, but without the effects alcohol can have on our health and our waistline.
To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Boulder, Colo.