Football season is a time of cheering, crying, eating, and drinking (to help with the crying). But if you want your New Year’s Eve dress to fit, you’ve got to keep some of the eating and drinking under control. Whether you’re watching at home, at a sports bar, or at the stadium, I’ve got some tips and tricks for easy ways to keep your calories in check.
When it comes to snacking at the game, don’t do it. Stick to meals.
- At Levi’s Stadium, you can get veggie burgers and veggie dogs, but I wouldn’t recommend it unless you’re actually a vegetarian.
- Go ahead and treat yourself to a burger! Just skip the cheese and have half the bun.
- Avoid soda. Have water or light beer.
- Share peanuts with a friend to get good protein benefits; just watch your portions.
If you’re watching at home, there are a number of great snack options.
- Skinny Pop popcorn
- Celery, carrots, or whole wheat pita with hummus
- Pamela Salzman (pamelasalzman.com) has a delicious Feta and Cucumber dip. You can find the recipe below. I like to serve it with red and yellow bell peppers, because, obviously.
Off to a sports bar?
- Order the wings and be sure to eat the celery with it, just avoid the blue cheese dressing.
- Most places have some great salad options, just get the dressing on the side and avoid anything fried and skip the cheese. Generally, avoid anything fried.
Bonus: At timeouts and commercials, do calf raises to burn some extra calories.
I have a caveat to all of this. If the team loses and loses again and loses again, drown your sorrows in chicken tenders and ice cream.
Go Niners!
Pamela Salzman Feta and Cucumber Dip:
- 12 ounces feta cheese, preferably sheep or goat, drained
- 4 Persian cucumbers, seeded and minced
- ½ cup finely chopped mild white onion, green onion or shallot
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
- ¼ cup unrefined cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon fresh mint leaves (or more to taste), chopped
- sea salt (if you need it) and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Pita Chips
- Whole wheat pita bread
- Unrefined cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
- Zhatar* or sea salt for sprinkling
Don’t forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel and enter my giveaway below for a chance to win two tickets to see the 49ers take on the Saints November 6th at Levi’s Stadium.
Go Niners!
