Snacking Tips During Football Season

Cara Stewart, RD, LDN, member of the Penn Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery team, provides tips for healthy eating during the football season.

Football season is here, and for so many of us, that means snacking during the game. Avoid taking a time-out from healthy eating during football season by following these easy tips:

• If you are hosting the game, provide healthy foods for you and your guests to enjoy. If you are going to watch the game at someone's house, offer to bring a healthy snack like one of those listed below.
• Use a small bowl or plate. Eating from a small plate helps limit portion sizes and reduces overall intake.
• Designate half-time as the only time to eat. Grazing during the game can lead to mindless eating.
• Avoid high calorie beverages. Drink calories can add up quickly, especially if they contain alcohol. Instead, opt for low-calorie beverages such as coffee, tea, water with lemon or sugar-free soft drinks with fresh fruit slices. For low-calorie alcoholic beverages, choose light beer or a mixed drink with a sugar-free mixer.
• If you do overindulge, stay positive and get back on track the next day.

These healthy and tasty snack ideas can help you stay on track.

• Cottage cheese and lemon pepper dip with fresh vegetables
• Whole-grain crackers and hummus
• Oven-fried chicken tenders with light ranch dip
• Baked tortilla chips with bean dip and salsa
• Thin-crust, whole-wheat pizza loaded with vegetables

Many more healthy snacks and recipes can also be found online.
- Cara Stewart, RD, LDN