5 Healthy Tips for the Big Game

Football season is coming to a close and we’re all ready to sit back, relax and watch the big game. While we all love fried appetizers, cold beer and hot wings, they can do some serious damage to your waistline. Don’t give up on your New Year’s resolution this game day! Stay on track with our five healthy, football-friendly tips.

1. Enjoy a pre-game activity.

Before you sit down for the big game, consider doing something active to start the day off right. Don’t worry, you don’t need to have a full-on sweat session. Grab the family, head outside and get in the football spirit with a game of catch! Even just a short walk can make a big difference. Check out the Fitness section on The Leaf for healthy tips and tricks for staying active.

2. Choose your snacks and appetizers wisely.

Fried food is a football game favorite. However, classic game day fare like mozzarella sticks, French fries and nachos are typically packed with calories and unhealthy ingredients. But not to worry! You can easily stay on track with delicious and nutritious recipes from The Leaf. Consider us your virtual recipe book for all things delicious! We have recipes for all of your favorites. We love making healthier fried food in the air fryer and diet-friendly alternatives for many popular snacks. Check out some our top recipes below!:

• Bell Pepper Nachos >
• 5-Ingredient Buffalo Cauliflower Breadsticks >
• Boneless Buffalo Chicken Bites >
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks Recipe >
• Nacho-Style Roasted Chickpeas >
• Air Fryer French Fries >
• Spicy Buffalo Deviled Eggs >

Don’t feel like cooking? Let Nutrisystem cater your game day snack menu! We deliver pre-portioned versions of favorite treats right to your door. Because they’re already in the perfect serving size, you don’t have to worry about overeating. Our Cheese Puffs and White Cheddar Popcorn are great choices for the big game.

3. Keep food in the kitchen.

Out of sight, out of mind! Avoid mindless snacking by keeping your game day spread off of the coffee table and in the kitchen. By ensuring there is a good distance between you and that pile of delicious food, you can help ensure that you don’t go in for seconds if you’re not feeling hungry. Keeping the food on the counter will just add an extra barrier between you and too many extra calories.

4. Limit alcohol.

We know, we know. There’s nothing like drinking your favorite ice cold beer while you’re watching the big game. But hear us out! You can enjoy a refreshing brew that’s lower in calories yet still delicious. Registered Dietitian and beer enthusiast, Mandi Knowles, taste tested a variety of diet-friendly beers to help us find the tastiest options. Check out her top 10 picks here! >  

When it comes to alcohol, moderation is important. You can enjoy up to two alcoholic beverages per week on Nutrisystem. We recommend spreading them out and enjoying them on different days of the week. Learn more about alcohol on Nutrisystem here. >

5. Use caution when ordering takeout.

Pizza joints and fast food restaurants are popular picks for game day grub. From pizza and hot wings to tacos and barbecue, the temptation to indulge is real. Not to mention, restaurant serving sizes are often way more than what you should be eating! If you plan to order out this game day, be sure to consult the Nutrisystem Dining Out Guide. We offer plenty of healthy tips and tricks for different types of cuisines. We also provide suggestions for some of your favorite restaurants! We also crafted this list of seven tips for ordering healthy delivery or takeout. >

The post 5 Healthy Tips for the Big Game appeared first on The Leaf.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an African mango?

British explorers discovered the fruit during an expedition into Africa. It has been grown for centuries throughout South America. However, due to climate change as well as deforestation, its current production is in decline.

The African Mango Project is a project that aims to reverse this trend by developing sustainable methods for growing East African fruit.

They also aim to create local jobs and improve the lives of communities living near plantations.

Their goal is to have the first commercial crop ready for harvest within 5 years.

How can I stop my appetite?

It is better to eat smaller meals more often than three large meals at mealtimes to avoid eating too much. This will stabilize your blood sugar and reduce hunger pangs.

It may turn out that drinking lots of water or taking herbal supplements such as bitter melon, ginseng or ginseng is better than relying solely on food.

Avoid foods high in carbs like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, as they can give you a short boost that then leads to a crash.

You should instead choose protein-rich foods, such as lean meats (fish, eggs), nuts and legumes. These will provide sustained energy and help keep your blood sugar levels stable.

Don’t eat sugary snacks or drinks like doughnuts, chocolate bars and cake. These can trigger cravings and leave you feeling bloated and sluggish.

Instead, opt for healthier options like fresh fruits, veggies, salads and whole-grain cereals.

You shouldn’t be relying on miracle products or fad diets to lose weight.

Do natural appetite suppressants really work?

Reduce your food intake is the best way of naturally losing weight. This would mean consuming less calories and avoiding foods that are high in fat and/or sugar.

Exercise regularly is the best way lose weight quickly. You’ll burn the extra calories you consume from the delicious foods you eat every day.

One of our natural appetite suppressants products might be a good option if you still haven’t lost weight despite following the tips.

These drinks contain powerful ingredients like bitter melon and green tea, ginger, and ginseng. All of them have been clinically demonstrated to reduce hunger pangs.

Statistics

• A 2003 meta-analysis of studies found that people taking orlistat for 12 months in combination with lifestyle changes saw a 2.9% greater weight reduction than the placebo group (26Trusted Source (healthline.com)
• According to another review from 2012, CLA may make you lose about 1.5 pounds (0.7 kg) compared with a placebo. (healthline.com)
• According to a 2014 review, even prescription weight loss pills don’t work as well as you might assume. (healthline.com)
• On average, they experienced 28 pounds (12.8 kg) of weight loss, a 6.4-inch (16.2-cm) reduction in waist circumference, and a 6.3% dip in body fat (5Trusted Source (healthline.com)
• A 2008 survey noted that 33.9% of American adults trying to lose weight took dietary supplements (1Trusted (healthline.com)

External Links

healthline.com

• Glucomannan — Is It an Effective Weight Loss Supplement?
  

ods.od.nih.gov

• Ephedra: Office of Dietary supplements
  
• Health Professional Fact Sheet: Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss
  

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• IGOB131, a novel seed extract of the West African plant Irvingia gabonensis, significantly reduces body weight and improves metabolic parameters in overweight humans in a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled investigation – PMC
  
• A case of renal disease that developed in association with African mango intake – PMC
  

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

• Efficacy and tolerability of a novel herbal formulation for weight management – Stern – 2013 – Obesity – Wiley Online Library
  
• Forskolin Use in Obese Men: Body Composition and Hormonal Adaptations
  

How To

How Can You Lose Weight Without Exercise Or Dieting?

The best way to lose weight naturally is to increase your metabolism so you burn fat faster than you store it. Your metabolism plays an important role in how much energy you use and how many calories you burn. The good news is you don’t have to exercise to raise your metabolism. You can easily make lifestyle changes today to increase your metabolism rate. Here are some great tips.

1. Eat more protein – Protein keeps blood sugar levels stable and helps muscle growth. In addition, research shows eating protein before meals can reduce food intake by up to 20%.
2. Drink more water – Water keeps your body hydrated. This makes it easier to eat less and helps you feel fuller for longer periods of time. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water per day to improve your digestion and speed up metabolism.
3. Reduce Sugar Consumption – This is one of the best ways to lose weight. Sugary foods can cause insulin to be released into your bloodstream which makes it more difficult to lose fat. This can be avoided by avoiding sugary sweets and soda. Instead, drink lots of water and eat plenty of fruits.
4. Get enough sleep – It has been proven that getting enough sleep can improve brain function, overall health, and glucose tolerance. It has been shown to decrease appetite hormones, including ghrelin and leptin.
5. Cardio Daily – Cardio exercises help you burn more calories each day. If you’re looking to start immediately, try walking briskly for 30 minutes three times a week. This will increase heart rate and cardiovascular fitness without you having to sweat.
6. Move Every Day! Keeping active is important for losing weight because it gives your body a reason to move each day. You don’t need to get into a rut to move. You can take the stairs rather than the elevator, park farther away from the entrance for shopping, walk around while talking on your phone, take frequent breaks throughout the day to stretch out and breathe deeply.