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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – DALLAS – Feb. 1, 2019 – You’ve resolved to lose weight, but the fast-food, calorie-laden Super Bowl party is approaching. UT Southwestern Medical Center nutritionists have some tips on how to stay on track in the face of party temptations.
“There are plenty of tricks and tips for both partygoers and party hosts to help provide alternatives to full-throttle bingeing,” says Kathleen Eustace, a clinical dietitian at UT Southwestern.
Among the best tips for controlling the calorie count:
- Eat a lower calorie meal just before going or a salad prior to higher calorie selections so you already feel full.
- Drink water or other sugar-free beverages instead of sugary drinks to help you feel full during the party. Add a little flavor to water with a squeeze of lime, lemon, or orange. We may not think of diet soda as a “healthy” option, but the occasional indulgence is OK since it has zero calories and no sugar, Ms. Eustace says.
- Stick with water instead of beer whenever eating salty foods that cause thirst.
- Remember moderation when it comes to any alcohol: one drink for women, two drinks for men. One 12-ounce beer equals one drink. Try lower calorie options like light beer if you do drink. Alcoholic beverages with sugary mixes such as regular soda add both sugar and calories.
- Instead of depriving yourself of favorite foods, eat smaller portions. You’re less likely to binge eat if you don’t feel deprived. Wait 15 to 20 minutes before going back for seconds or dessert. Ask yourself if you are still hungry.
- Think tapas. Take a small sampling of the items you would like to taste.
- Make your selections, then move away from the serving table rather than standing nearby and eating continuously without thinking.
- Ask for a smaller plate and allow yourself one serving. Don’t pile on more food than fits on the smaller plate. If going back for seconds, pick the veggies: grape tomatoes, celery sticks, red pepper sticks, or baby carrots.