How to Survive Game Day!
A stress-free guide to not Super-Eat during the Super Bowl
https://integrateddiabetes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/super-bowl-2025-healthy-snacks-300×300.png
It’s days away from game day! The Superbowl. The final showdown between the Kansas Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.
Does an event like this fill you with excitement and enthusiasm, or is it just another obstacle in the life of someone who lives life with a chronic disease?
To borrow a well-known quote from Michael Jordan –
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”
You may have all the knowledge and skills you think you need to succeed and diabetes or weight management but working as a team will get you where you ultimately want to be. Everyone goes through tough times, faces unknown situations and needs a little advice or motivation from time to time.
At IDS, we have a dedicated and passionate team who really understand the difficulties of living with a chronic disease and have been through all the trials and tribulations of life WITH that chronic disease. And despite the fact that many of the IDS team have lived with their chronic disease for over 20 years, we are still learning and relying on the support of others on a regular basis.
Dr Paula Diab runs the weight management services at IDS and has a very practical approach to identifying obstacles and challenges and then strategizing to minimize them. By learning and practicing we can improve our health one forward pass at a time.
FOLLOW US! Over the next few days, follow our social channels to gain some great insight as to how to SURVIVE GAME DAY! (Facebook | Instagram )
The basics of football are the same as many sports – work as a team; sometimes you’ll be on the offense, sometimes on the defense. Try to gain ground, score points and advance your team to be the victors!
It’s pretty much the same with diabetes or weight management:
Work as a team; sometimes you’ll be in control, other times on the back foot.
Keep gaining ground, moving forward and trying to reach your goals. I’m just not sure if you ever really win with weight loss or diabetes – it’s a never-ending game!
Firstly, neither diabetes nor weight management needs to be synonymous with sacrificing flavor, enjoyment or social interactions. It just means you may have to plan ahead and think smart. But that’s what we expect of our sports stars anyway, so perhaps we can do the same.
Here are some great tips to help you not Super-Eat during the Super Bowl!
Plan Ahead
No self-respecting football player arrives on the morning of the Super Bowl with his boots in hand and asks what the plan is for the day. Planning and strategizing occur MONTHS in advance. So do the same with your celebration meal. Have a protein-rich snack before you sit down for the game so you’re not overly hungry. Speak to your friends and family that you’re watching with and ensure they’re all on board – planning a menu ahead of time can actually be quite a bit of fun.
Bring a Healthy Dish
This may be your Most Valuable Player moment! Consider contributing something nutritious that you enjoy and thereby ensuring there are healthy options available. Healthy, low-fat or low-carb foods don’t have to be low-taste! I’ve included some healthy suggestions that you may want to try.
Use a Smaller Plate
You’ll be amazed at the effect of using a small plate. Our brains are somehow wired to want to fill a plate. Grab the smaller plate and it can really help with portion control. While we’re on the topic of plates – use one! Very often, if we just grab food with our fingers, we lose track of how many Buffalo Wings or pizza slices we’ve had. Serve yourself a plate of what looks healthy and reasonable portion sizes and then sit back and enjoy – slowly! Or better still, use innovative plating ideas that really limit portion sizes!
Choose Wisely
You really don’t have to have a taste of EVERYTHING that is on offer – choose those snacks that look appetizing and healthy. Make small burgers/sliders rather than supersized buns. Maybe try a charcuterie platter with lean proteins, veggies and fiber-rich foods instead of an oily pizza slice.
Be Mindful of Liquid Calories
Unfortunately, both alcohol and sugary drinks add up quickly. They are not your friend when you’re trying to manage your weight or diabetes. Water is a very good option but not really associated with celebrations. Try light beverages, dilute sugary drinks or alcohol with club soda or sparkling water.
Make Your Meals More Appealing
Other ways we can make eating and celebrating a bit more appealing are by playing with color, texture, and plating. We eat with our eyes first, so presentation really does matter! Perhaps you can be more creative than the on-screen commercials during the game? A quick search on Pinterest gives you endless inspiration!
- Use Color: Incorporate a variety of vibrant vegetables and fruits to make your plate visually appealing.
- Play with Texture: Combine crunchy, creamy, and chewy elements to keep platters interesting.
- Use Fun Plating Techniques: Arrange food neatly, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve in attractive dishes to elevate your experience. This football, although it contains all my favorite snacks and nibbles almost seems like it can’t be touched!
- Enhance Flavor Naturally: Use citrus zest, fresh herbs, and spices to add depth without extra calories.
Use these next few days to plan ahead, and come Sunday, you may well be celebrating!
**We will be sharing more tips and healthy snack recipes all this week!**
