The following post is written by Nutrition Services with Woman’s Hospital.
The big game is here and the place to be is in front of a TV with your closest friends and family cheering your team on to victory.
But while you’re enjoying the game (or the commercials), your waistline may not be having such a Super Sunday. The Super Bowl is one of the biggest calorie fests of the year for many Americans, and the average football fan eats about a day’s worth of calories during the game.
Don’t ruin the party by chowing down on thousands of unnecessary calories this year. Woman’s Nutrition Services has tips to keep you in the game and your diet on track.
Instead of fried chicken and fries…
Bake your food instead for fewer calories and less fat! Crush enough corn flakes to coat your chicken (about two cups of crushed cereal per three pounds of chicken). Season a bowl of low-fat buttermilk with your favorite chicken seasonings (hot sauce, pepper, garlic, etc.) and add the chicken to this mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and let soak for three to 12 hours. Season your cornflakes with salt and pepper and then dredge the buttermilk-soaked chicken into the cornflake mixture. Place on a sheet tray and bake at 400°F for 45 minutes until golden and crispy. Now for the fries! Cut potatoes into wedges and toss in olive oil. Season to your liking and then bake at 450°for 45 minutes (turn halfway through). Try sweet potatoes instead for more health benefits.
Instead of pizza…
Pizza and football go hand-in-hand, but traditional pizza crusts can be a personal foul to your diet. Try a homemade pizza crust made with cauliflower! This may not taste like the wheat dough you’re used to, but the cauliflower along with pizza seasonings add a great flavor and texture. You won’t even miss the “real” thing. One fourth of this crust has only 140 calories and 3.5 grams of carbohydrates!
DIRECTIONS
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, and preheat oven to 425°F.
- Grate the cauliflower using a box grater until you have two cups of cauliflower crumbles. Place in a large bowl and microwave for seven to eight minutes, or until soft. Remove from the microwave and let cool.
- Mix in the egg, one cup mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper. Once combined, pat into a 10-inch round on the prepared pizza pan. Spray lightly with nonstick spray and bake for 10 to 15minutes, or until golden.
- Top the pizza with your favorite sauce and ingredients!
What about dessert?
Most people crave something sweet, creamy and chocolaty to complete their Super Bowl spread. To save on calories and unhealthy saturated fats, peel two very ripe bananas and cut into one-inch pieces. Freeze the banana pieces for several hours (doing this ahead of time means you’ll always have frozen bananas on hand to satiate your craving). Throw the banana pieces into a blender and add three tablespoons of milk (try vanilla soymilk or almond milk for a little extra sweetness) and one to two tablespoons of dark chocolate chips. Blend, and what you have now is a chocolate chip ice cream/milk shake. This tastes AMAZING and will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth. One half of this recipe is 185 calories and only 4.5 grams of fat. You can make this your own creation by adding in different fruit for a fruit dessert or a little bit of peanut butter for a chocolate peanut butter cup “milkshake.”