Enjoy viewing parties the healthy way

Can’t wait to watch the Super Bowl or March Madness with your buddies? Looking forward to a Netflix binge with your friends? Excited to see the fashion and speeches during awards season?

You’re in good company!

Viewing parties are a lot of fun. They can also bring a lot of food, a lot of booze, and a lot of time sitting down. So think like a quarterback who has to plot out plays before game day. Or the actor who rehearses their speech in case they win. Be prepared with a plan.

Here are a few easy, healthy choices you can make while enjoying the big event on-screen.

Enjoy smart food options

• If you go to a party at someone’s home, bring a healthy dish or two for everyone to enjoy. Bonus points if it has lots of non-starchy veggies, like roasted peppers or grilled veggie skewers.
• If you host a party, offer fruit and veggie side dishes to be paired with the usual game day fare. Veggie trays with hummus or sliced fruit platters are low-calorie finger foods that will keep you satisfied longer.
• Aim for a Balanced Plate whenever you can. Try to load up half your plate with non-starchy veggies. Save a quarter for starchy veggies and/or whole grains, and another quarter for lean proteins.
• The usual game day chicken wings can throw you off your healthy eating plan. But you’ll save calories and salt with some simple changes. Try your wings baked or air-fried. Find a tasty no-salt rub like pepper and lemon or parsley and garlic powder. But a little hot sauce is great!
• Baked chips have half the calories and about a third of the fat that regular chips have.
• Buy or prepare a fresh salsa to add a pop of flavor and extra veggies with virtually no extra calories.
• Love meatballs and sliders? Try lean turkey meat instead of red meat. You’ll save a ton of calories and fat but still get all the juicy flavor. You can use whole grain buns for the sliders to get more fiber and nutrients than you would from white flour bread.
• If you’re at a restaurant or bar, have a balanced meal or a healthy snack before you leave home. It’ll help prevent you from overeating or grazing. If you can, check out the menu ahead of time so you can find a healthy option you’ll enjoy.
• Want to avoid mindless eating? Keep the food in the kitchen while everyone sits in the living area. It prevents you from grazing, and makes it more likely you’ll only eat what’s on your plate.