Phoenix’s most popular trainer shows you his favorite Super Bowl recipes to keep you looking trim at kickoff

So the Super Bowl is in 6 days and  I am sure you all have big plans to watch the game with friends and family.  Now is also the time to start prepping for all that great food we love to eat.  This time however, how about making some small tweaks to some of the party favorites to make them a little bit healthier and keep you on track to looking and feeling great..

 

Below is a list of both approved food choices or at least some healthy substitutes for those traditional party foods.  You can literally save hundreds of calories while satisfying your tastebuds.  Now think about this, if you were to use this strategy for all your parties and social gatherings this year, you could prevent 5-10lbs of weight gain.

 

 

Section I- Appetizers

 

·         Naked Sandwiches (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)

·         Thin Crust Whole Grain Pizza

·         Fruit Salad (throw low carb whipped cream and dash of splenda/stevia on top as desired)

·         Super Salad Bowl (use unlimited veggies and meats, dip dressing on the side or use low calorie substitutes)

·         Sweet Potato Fries

·         Tuna or Chicken Salad

·         Nut Butter on Celery Sticks

·         Mixed Nuts (no sugar, unroasted, low in salt)

·         Cheese, Eggs, and Meat Tray

·         Caprese Salad

·         Raw Veggies (use dip sparingly)

·         Grilled/Sauteed Veggies (use extra virgin olive or coconut oil)

·         Figure-Friendly Nachos (see “accessories” below for ingredients: tortillas, cheese, salsa, and guac)

·         Buffalo Chicken Bites (skinless, no breading, use low calorie buffalo sauce sparingly)

·         Pasta Salad (use whole grain pasta and go easy on the dressings, choosing marina based sauces over creamier versions)

 

Section II- Accessories

 

·         Natural Whole Grain Tortillas

·         Natural Baked Chips

·         Natural Cheeto’s

·         Diet Lipton Green Teas (or other low calorie/carb beverages)

·         Water

·         Natural Salsa

·         Guacamole

·         Salad Dressings: Vinegars of choice (apple cider, red wine, balsamic, etc.)

·         Other Low Calorie Condiments of Choice: mustard, hot sauce, horseradish, etc.

 

Section III- Main Courses

 

·         Lettuce Burgers (use extra lean sirloin or bison, preferably bun-less only using whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)

·         Rotisserie Chicken (choose “plain” and remove skin and dab off any grease as needed with paper towel)

·         Extra Lean Kosher Hot Dogs (preferably bun-less, only use whole grain bun option if absolutely needed)

·         Chili (preferably bean-less, only use if absolutely needed and feel free to swap extra lean turkey for the beef version to cut down fat intake)

·         Pizza (see “appetizers” above or use whole grain/thin crust options from restaurants or frozen food isles)

 

Section IV- Desserts

 

·         Edy’s Grand Light Ice Cream

·         Prograde Cravers (100% organic chocolate snacks bars)

·         Larabars

·         Cocoa Via Bars or Packs

·         Low Carb Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory

·         Protein Cookies (swap in protein powder for flour)

 

BONUS- Top 10 Tips to Save Thousands of Calories on Super Bowl Sunday

 

1.) Go Naked: Replace all buns or breading for sandwiches with a lettuce wrap alternative to cut calories, stabilize blood sugar, and boost fiber and micronutrient intake.

 

2.) Hydrate: Drink at least two to four cups of water before eating AND one to two cups every 15-30 minutes after you start eating to fill your stomach and prevent overeating that can be triggers by dehydration.

 

3.)I am not trying to kill all the fun but try to limit the number of liquid calories you consume.  Maybe alternate between a soda/beer etc, with a water or some tea.  You can literally save hundreds of calories form this alone.

 

4.) Make sure you maintain your usual eating schedule.  There is not bigger diet killer than heading to the big game on an empty stomach.  (You have been warned)

 

5.) Replace All White with Brown (Or Better Yet... Green!): Be sure to use the whole grain alternatives for any starch you serve at your party (e.g. chips, tortillas, breads, rice, pasta). Whole grains have more vitamins and minerals and are high in fiber which means they won’t have as negative of an impact on your blood sugar compared to its white counterparts. However, if you want to be a nutritional boy or girl scout, go one step further by replacing all brown with green in the form of green veggies (see “Go Naked” above).

 

6.) Focus on eating lean proteins and fruits and veggies first. Use these in unlimited amounts as needed to fill you up and best prevent the typical party “killshot” of high carb and high fat meals (e.g. thick crust pizza with extra full-fat cheese).

 

7.) Try not to dip from the platter, fill yourself a plate with food.  This way you can keep better track of how much you are eating.

 

8.) Replace Gold With Green: Opt for guacamole over cheese for your salads and chips. Guacamole is not only low in saturated fat and high in heart healthy monounsaturated fats but it also has a ton of fiber that will help fill you up fast and prevent overeating. Though cheese is a true super food in moderation, it is very easy to overeat especially when mixed with refined carb sources like white chips and pizza.

 

9.) Replace Flour with Protein Powder: Few people know that protein powder makes a great cooking or baking substitute for flour (e.g. protein cookies). By adding protein and reducing your carb intake you will boost metabolism.

 

10.) 20 Chews: Eat slowly and require a certain number of chews before you swallow to allow your brain enough time to get the “I’m full” signal (e.g. 20 pre-swallow chews).