Tackle Super Bowl Foods and Win

Sunday, February 7th is Super Bowl. In addition to its commercials, Super Bowl is pretty well known for its food. In fact, Super Bowl is the second highest calorie intake day of the year after Thanksgiving. The average person will consume 2,400 calories in just this one day. That is way over your gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, or lap band diet calorie budget. It’s more like several days worth of calories. Staying closer to your calorie limit will help you stay on track for weight loss.

Don’t let a game derail your weight loss efforts. You don’t have to consume all of those calories. You can tackle the Super Bowl foods and win. With some simple planning and being mindful of your behavior on game day, you can come out on top. Here are our tips:

1. Don’t go to the party hungry

Chances are there will be a table full of foods you should avoid. This will be easier to do if you aren’t hungry. Eat your normal post gastric sleeve breakfast and lunch. Remember to concentrate on protein, whole grains, fresh fruits, vegetables, and good fats.

2. Get your exercise in
If you know you’re going to go over your usual calories for the day, you will feel better about yourself if you’ve gotten in your exercise. Guilt can fuel more eating, so prevent feeling guilty by knowing you’ve done something good for your body by exercising.

3. Don’t stand or sit by the table of food
If it’s within reach, you may reach for it. Sit or stand far away from the food table. Make it harder for you to reach, make it more an effort to get up and another serving.

4. Play defensively
Steer clear of the heavy, calorie and carbohydrate laden foods. Go toward the healthier fare- vegetables, bean based dips, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, nuts, or even cheese. Use a small appetizer sized dish to put food on, this will help you limit the amount you take. Stay away from the empty calories in alcohol and other sugary drinks, stick water or sparkling water.

5. Bring your own dish to the party
You may not know what foods will be served at the party, so bring a healthy one that you like. At least you’ll know there will be something there you like and that can easily fit into your gastric sleeve diet.

Ideas include:

• Zucchini Chips
• Guacamole with homemade sweet potato chips
• Lettuce Wrapped Turkey Tacos
• Quick Lemon Garlic White Bean Dip with crudite
• Meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce
• Hummus with Cucumbers and Red Peppers
• Zucchini Pizza Rounds
• Grilled Chicken Satays
• Steamed Edamame

Enjoy the game, but enjoy it without overindulging. You body will thank you for it.

The above ideas are offered by Dr. Shillingford, M.D., P.A., a board certified general surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and obesity surgery. Dr. Shillingford’s sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass, and lap band patients are often looking for ways to control their eating habits, especially on special occasions. His Boca Raton office serves bariatric and general surgery patients from all over Florida, including Miami, Delray Beach, Coral Springs, Orlando, and Jacksonville.