Did you know that football season marks the start of weight gain season? From now until the end of the year, many people will struggle with their weight loss goals. Think about it: football tailgates, Halloween candy, Thanksgiving turkey, holiday treats and New Year’s drinks. Yes, it all adds up!
Snack Attack
Go easy on the pretzels, chips and cookies. These snacks are dense in calories and carbohydrates, and also low in nutritional value. Opt for healthy options such as the following:
- Fruit kabobs
- Veggie trays with healthy dips (i.e. guacamole, salsa, or hummus). Avoid cream-based dips that use products like mayonnaise or ranch dressing and instead go for the homemade dips that use yogurt as a base.
- Unsalted trail mix. Be careful though, nuts and seeds can easily be gobbled down like a bag of chips. Although they are nutrient dense, they are also high in calories so take only a small handful.
- Taco dip. Prepare it heavy on the veggies and light on the cheese. Take the time to
individually portion out whole grain chips into small plastic cups to help guests avoid portion distortion.
Cheers to Beer!
- Do not consume alcohol on an empty stomach. Always eat food first. Drinking alcohol can lead to poor choices including those appearing on your plate in the buffet line.
- Drink one glass of water in between alcoholic beverages. This will help you stay hydrated throughout the entire game.
- Alcoholic drinks can be high in calories, which can add up quickly if you are having more than one beverage. Be sure to stay away from heavy beers and sugary selections. Healthier options include light beer or a wine spritzer.
- If you are not a drinker or really want to stick to your weight loss program, add some fresh fruit to your water like lemon, mint or cucumber. Or if you are really feeling fun, why not try all three? Your red Solo® Cup will have an added burst of flavor, not to mention you will be hydrated.
With assistance from Ashley Martens, future RDN
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