By: Bridget Hollingsworth Date: 2/5/10
On February 7th friends and families all over the U.S. will get together for the Super Bowl. Although Peyton Manning and Drew Brees won’t be watching the game like the rest of us, the two quarterbacks playing in Sunday’s Big Game are family friends. Peyton Manning and Drew Brees had a friendly connection early in their careers, but when Brees moved to New Orleans to play for the Saints, he became close friends with Archie Manning - Peyton’s dad and a former Saints quarterback. The connections have only grown deeper over time, and the families have grown closer. They've even talked about planning a joint Super Bowl party.
Food For Thought
Friendship and family brought these quarterbacks together, and perhaps it reminds you of the values and traditions that are shared with the important people in your life. Whether watching the Super Bowl or the infamous commercials, research has shown that we tend to eat more when we eat with our family or friends perhaps because we are relaxed and enjoying ourselves.
Built in Support System
Although it can be easy to forget how much we eat when enjoying time with our loved ones, there are also advantages to eating with them. If your goal is to manage your weight while enjoying the Big Game, friends and family can provide a built-in support system. The International Food Information Council Foundation’s 2009 Food & Health Survey found that support from family and friends is important to individuals looking to improve their diet. Compliments from friends and family can also keep people motivated to accomplish their goals. Whether you or a friend are looking for healthful options on Super Bowl Sunday, providing support and healthy food and beverage options can help. However, not everyone may share your goals, so make sure to balance the enjoyment of Super Bowl Sunday with the traditions that others hold dear, including decadent munchies and sweets!
Here are some tips beyond the traditional “veggie trays and low fat dips” to help your family and friends enjoy a healthier Super Bowl Sunday:
- Use smaller serving bowls and plates. Research by Brian Wansink, Ph.D. about mindless eating, has shown the use of smaller serving bowls causes people to take less food and use of smaller plates decreases the number of calories we eat.
- Prepare yourselves for intense laughter. With up to 45 minutes of commercials planned, you could burn up to 120 calories throughout the game, just by laughing!
- Loosen up with some exercise (really!). Throw a football around outside before the game, dance during the halftime show, or (if The Who isn’t your kind of music) go for a quick walk to stretch your legs.
- Think about snacks with fiber. An easy way to increase the fiber content is to replace white with brown – choose whole grain chips, crackers, and breads. Popcorn is another great fiber-rich option – skip the butter and sprinkle on some cinnamon, cayenne pepper, or parmesan cheese – whichever your family and friends like best!
- For carbonated beverages with less calories, consider having diet beverages and sparkling water on hand along with your traditional beverage offerings. Keep fresh strawberries, cucumbers, limes, and lemons next to the sparkling water to make fun and tasty sparkling water spritzers.
- Check out these Super Bowl tips from the CDC, and share any tips, ideas, or recipes with us for your healthy Super Bowl celebration!
Enjoy the game, and let us know who are you rooting for on Sunday?
Bridget Hollingsworth is completing her Masters of Public Health degree in Nutrition at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, and will graduate in May. Bridget is currently an intern at the International Food Information Council Foundation.