Game ON! Mixing futbol fever and food
Written by Barbie Broschart
It’s World Cup time, which means my soon-to-be husband’s family is amped. They are crazy Italian soccer fans, and each family hosts a specific game depending upon how far they make it. Team Italy tied their first game on Monday (woo hoo!), which unfortunately I missed because I was working. But I can only imagine the spread of food his family laid out. It’s like Thanksgiving - three different kinds of cheese, fresh cut prosciutto, imported olive oil and marinated artichoke hearts, to name a few appetizers — all of my favorites. Top that off with a couple of cold beers, bring out the flags and get in the futbol zone! I love to share in the festivities – especially when they scream things in Italian that I don’t understand -- but the problem is the foods that I love are super high in calories and are not figure-friendly for a girl who is trying to get into her wedding dress. That’s why I pre-plan, and if you’re attending any soccer parties this year and want to watch your waistline, follow these steps.
Eat a snack: Before attending one of these events it is a good idea to have a snack at home before you leave to curb your hunger. Try a 100 calorie bag of popcorn, ½ of sandwich, 1 hardboiled egg and a slice of toast, or a salad with ½ cup beans and lots of veggies. My favorite is a ½ cup of frozen peaches (I pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds to get them warm) with either one container of nonfat Greek yogurt or ½ cup of low fat cottage cheese. The combination of fiber and protein helps to keep me full and prevents me from bee-lining to the cheese platter.
Stick to your favorites: What is your most favorite item at the party? If you eat cheese everyday than there is no need to have a plateful of cheese at the party. If they are serving hamburgers at the party and you haven’t had one in several months and would love to – go for it, but then limit your intake of fat for the rest of the party. Decide if you would rather eat light and drink a little more or vice versa. Unfortunately, you can’t have it all.
Keep your mouth busy: After you’ve eaten, chew on a piece of gum or suck on a throat lozenge – you will need it after all that screaming. By keeping your mouth busy you will be less likely to eat more food.
Do as the French: If you are going to indulge in junk food, you must move your body! Apparently in France, junk foods have to carry wording that tells the consumer to ‘manger’ and then ‘bouger’, which roughly translates to ‘if you stuff your face, shift your ass.’ Definitely not a delicate message but it gets the point across. On a day like this I would try to hit the gym for at least an hour.
Good Luck to all the teams!
Comment back! Are you watching the World Cup?
Christine
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