Let's face, big parties and gatherings where everybody is together and eating and bringing food are the HARDEST times to try and stay on track! If you're really watching your calories and were invited to a fun Super Bowl party, it's highly unlikely that everyone else at that party is going to be carefully watching their calories as well. It happens, but not likely. I'm thankful that we are planning to head to my mom's house for a Super Bowl party and most of my family is really carefully watching what they eat, but that doesn't mean that even when it's healthy food setting out on the counters that you can't overindulge! So I thought I would offer a few tips of things that I like to keep in mind that help me get through big gathering where all the food isn't exactly on my plan.
First of all, if you're invited to a party (or hosting one) it's likely that you are making some food to take with. Be SURE that the food you are bringing is something that fits within your points(calories) for the day, so you know there is at least something there that you can snack on. I am making a pot of chicken tortilla soup and also bringing a pan of brownies. I wasn't asked to bring two things, but I decided I'd rather bring a little extra and make sure that there are alternatives for David and I than to feel like I have to totally deprive myself of something or eat something I shouldn't. Some good suggestions of things to bring would be fruit and vegetable trays, soups, low calorie desserts or salad fixings. It might not be the most exciting things to eat, but surely someone else will be bringing all the heavy-calorie items, they'll be there whether you want them to be or not. For me, soup is an easy thing to portion out because I can serve up my portion and head off to enjoy, but it's a lot harder to be tempted to continue to snack on, at least for me. Fruit and veggies are unlimited, snack away!
Some of the real culprits are going to be the real cheesy, ooey, gooey dips that go along with their oh-so-easy-to munch chips. It is so easy to head straight for those and they are a super easy snack to just dip and run and take in many more calories than you think you're going to. Those chips, potato chips, tortilla chips, corn chips, all so high in calories and fat. Even those baked ones, if you can limit yourself to just a few, then go for it, but they can be more deceptive that you think. Just because it's baked doesn't mean you can go hog wild! (Not to mention they can do goofy things to your stomach later on).
My other suggestion is to stick to water and diet sodas. Regular soda can pack a high calorie count, and it's really wasted calories. Plus, the more water you drink, the more your stomach will fill up and the less you eat. I know not everyone agrees on this, but I love diet soda, Diet Coke in particular, and I know the artificial sweeteneers aren't the best for you, but the fizziness helps to fill my stomach and I find that I eat less if I'm sipping my Diet Coke throughout the night.
My suggestion is going to be to fill up a plate with lots of salad, get a bowl of soup or chili (try to avoid piling it cheese and sour cream), grab some fresh fruit and maybe some pretzels, if you're really needing that salty fix, and head for a room away from the food to watch the game, or the commercials, in my case. :) If you need to go back into the kitchen, fill up with water or diet soda or fruit and head back on out. You're just asking for trouble if you're going hang out next to the cream cheese and refried bean dip to stand and talk.
Here's a recipe for glazed brownies that our family LIVES on during the week for our sweet fix...bring these for your dessert to the big game!
Glazed Brownies
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