You can be the MVP this fall
This is my favorite time of year. Everything is amazing – the weather and clothing – and it lasts through Halloween. Most importantly, it’s football season.
This time of year brings the cookouts, stadium cups, and long days around a tailgate. But don’t raise the white flag yet! With OurSkinny on your team you are bound for victory. Here are a few tricks from my personal play book to help you stay on track:
Make it Sizzle
The best weapon you can possibly have in your possession: a grill. Big or small, elaborate or basic, these outdoor wonders add tenderness and flavor , without the adding calories. You can put almost anything on the grill, which allows you to follow the guidelines set out in the Main Meal Planner with ease. Veggies, meats, starches, and even pizza can be grilled so the menu can change every game! I have a big one at home and a small, portable grill for gameday.
One game at time, please
Don’t play the guessing game when it comes to how that dip was made or what exactly is in that mystery meat on the grill. Football season is casual, so take advantage of the potluck attitude at most celebrations. Bring foods you can eat with out guilt and, most importantly, eat the food that you prepared for the cookout since you know exactly what the ingredients are in the dish. The trick play? Alternate fatty meats, butter, and monstrous buns with reduced fat cheese, whole wheat wraps, and ground turkey. If you still feel like your patty will sail wide right, keep it simple with chicken. Almost everyone loves this meat (#1 meat in America!) and it is by far the easiest to make while keeping the calories on the sideline.
Get in the game!
You don’t need to be drafted by the Falcons to play with your family and friends. Get a game of touch going in the backyard and even better, make it a tradition! Even at the stadium you can play horseshoes, corn hole, or simply take a walk during half time. Look at the difference you can make with just one hour of activity on a Saturday or Sunday:
- 1 mile walk: burns around 100 calories
- Horseshoe toss: 200 calories
- Flag football: 560
- Badminton: about 300
Be the host!
Draft yourself as Quarterback so you can call the shots. As host or hostess, you can control the majority of what is on the table and be strategic about it. At my house, I put the healthiest options (be it mine or a guest’s) on the table in the room where I spend the most time. Put the chips and salsa, hot wings, and sliders in the den where the big screen is, and I promise you won’t get a seat. Your guests will be impressed with your hosting skills, and you will have put in about 1.5 miles on your pedometer playing both chef and server.
The author (& friend): Gameday Heros
If you take nothing away from any of this then you should at least know what your opponent looks like. Take a look at the estimated calories for some of your favorite stadium treats:
- Hot Dog (6.4 oz.): 464
- Large Popcorn: 951
- Nachos with cheese: 1101
- Individual Pan Pizza: 660
- 12 oz. light beer: 100-120
You will have to walk for over 3 ½ hours to burn off those nachos, at which point, you might as well have played in the game yourself.
Go OurTeam!
By Katie R.
Well said!!