Diet
Tips for Tackling Your Diet at Super Bowl Parties
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Jan 9, 2015 - 3:13:55 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - Perhaps in the new year you have resolved to eat healthier to manage your diabetes, blood pressure, or cholesterol. Parties present a challenge to that resolution, so it's important to have a game plan before tackling the Super Bowl spread.

"Remember healthy food choices and controlling portions are key to good health," said Dr. Jo Ann Carson, registered dietitian nutritionist at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

If you're hosting a party, include healthy options such as salad, fruits, and vegetables. Low-calorie and sugar-free options can help diabetic friends and family control calories and carbohydrates and make sound choices without much fuss.

"For people with diabetes the goal is to keep the carbohydrates down - and encourage more of the protein-rich foods - to enhance satiety," Dr. Carson advises. She also coaches her patients to eat slowly, so that they eat a limited amount per quarter, and to get up and walk around during each commercial to encourage activity as well as better eating habits. For those with diabetes, it is also important to monitor blood sugars on a regular basis throughout the game.

If you're trying to keep control of your diabetes, find out what's on tap for the Super Bowl party you're attending. If it's shaping up to be a high-carb feast, bring some of your own favorite dishes, or coordinate with other family and friends with diabetes to ensure the table includes healthier options. If blood pressure is more a concern for you, load up on fruits and veggies that provide potassium and limit your sodium by avoiding salty snacks, dips and sauces.

Dr. Carson offers these hosting guidelines:

Zero penalties for eating these foods:

• Broad array of salad options, including sugar-free and low-calorie dressings, including salad greens, sprouts, mushrooms, onions, peppers, radishes, and tomatoes;
• Crunchy low calorie vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, jicama, asparagus, and cucumbers;
• Unlimited beverages options such as water, unsweetened tea, coffee, and calorie-free diet sodas;
• Grilled fish, skinless chicken or turkey, and/or soy-based "veggie" burgers;
• Low/non-fat dairy options including non-fat cheeses, yogurts and skim milk.

5-yard penalties (meaning go sparingly and watch portion sizes):

• Fruits such as apples, peaches, and most berries;
• Whole grain options for rice, pasta, breads, and crackers in small portions;
• Beans/legumes such as kidney, pinto or black beans, chick peas (also known as garbanzo beans), and lentils;
• Unsalted nuts (1 oz., or about 20 nuts is a serving);
• Fruits and vegetables, especially those with edible skin (apples, corn, and beans) and those with edible seeds (berries).

15-yard penalty for consumption of these items:

• Cookies, pies, candies, desserts;
• Potato chips, high-fat dips, and high-fat crackers;
• Regular sodas, alcohol, and sweetened beverages.

Visit http://www.utswmedicine.org/conditions-specialties/nutrition/ for information from UT Southwestern on nutrition.

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