SUPER BOWL GAME PLAN!
This Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday here in the US! The last NFL game of the season is oddly enough one of the most food focused days for many folk. With that in mind I wanted to share a few possible “game plans” that might be helpful if you are following a ketogenic way of eating and focused on weight loss goals. I hope you will find this advice helpful and maybe discover some new ideas for when you are dealing with any event of this kind! Let me say I firmly believe there is always a choice you can make that is in line with your goals and your plan, AND will allow you to enjoy the day.
As I see it, whether you are hosting a gathering yourself, going to someone else’s Super Bowl Party or just watching alone at home you can choose one of three options:
Eat Off Plan
Shocked I am starting with this one? I am not. I think it is one of the simplest choices to navigate but the one with the biggest possible consequences. Simplest because it involves no special food prep or discussions. But it could end up creating much bigger challenges if this is not something you feel ready for right now. Going full carb wild will most likely affect the scale the next day, create cravings that can last for days, or worse set you off course for days, weeks, months or longer! If this is your choice, be safe and be well. I sincerely hope it goes well! I included this as an option because it is in fact an option. It is not one I would recommend in good conscience so let’s move on!
Abstain Completely
From one extreme to the other! With this option you are making the choice to not give value to this event as a “fun food day!” You will make your usual plan for the day and stick to it. This could include bringing your meal with you somewhere or eating beforehand to avoid temptation. I include this option because I want you to know it is okay if this is the safest plan of attack for you! If you’re worried that even being surrounded by keto friendly options will be too much of a challenge for you right now personally then I fully support you following the plan you need. I have done this myself before at a variety of events and found that staying on track was easier for me when I took the food challenge out of the equation. Getting a flavored sparkling water I wanted to try or bringing my favorite Zevia (stevia sweetened soda) was a great choice for me.
Plan Accordingly
The third option is one I think most folk planning to celebrate Super Bowl Sunday choose. Whether you’re the host or the guest, prepping keto friendly snacks (even ones that fit into your macro plan!) can provide you the experience you’re looking for without any of the negative consequences. Be honest with yourself when you make your plan. Think about the portions and choices you will be making. I asked Instagram what were folks favorite football watching snack options and there were certainly some commonalities. The top five responses were:
Wings
Pork Rinds (alone or as nachos!)
Fatty dips (like guacamole or buffalo chicken) with vegetables
Cheese & Meat Platter
Bacon wrapped jalapeno poppers
They all sound like great options to me! I’d through in some other great ideas like deviled eggs, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs or sausage balls, cheese crisps, or a keto pizza (try a fat head dough like the recipe here or a chicken crust like this one!)
Much like I discussed in a previous blog on the holidays I think the key thing is feeling solid about the choices you are making. Whether you have a team you are rooting for or just want to enjoy some time with friends and family, remember that your goals and enjoyment of the day do not need to be in conflict as long as you do a little mindful planning.
