COMMENTARY

Don’t let fatty snacks sack Super Bowl party

A Buffalo chicken taquito is dipped in bleu cheese dressing.

Soon, very soon, it will be game time, time to belly up to the bar.

Yes, football fans, we mean the snack bar.

Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest food feasts of the entire year — second only to Thanksgiving — and football fans will chew through oodles of cheezy doodles, plus much, much more. There will be a whole lot of snackin’ going on. Not just at home parties, but at restaurants and public places featuring large-screen TVs, chicken wings, beer, and trendy cocktails

Consider that Americans, based on various estimates, will pack away millions and millions and millions of pounds of potato chips, tortilla chips, pretzels, popcorn, and nuts on game day. The average armchair quarterback will consume 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat from the annual super smorgasbord of appetizers, snacks, dips, wings, finger-foods, beverages, and desserts. Other food on Super Bowl Sunday, say breakfast, lunch, and a midnight fridge visit, pack on additional calories.

What to do, what to do....the Calorie Control Council has a whopper list of recommendations, such as planning your Super Bowl event and menu to include no-fat and low-fat chips and dips. For instance, choosing fat-free potato chips could save up to 300 calories per person. And, nationwide, fat-free potato chips could trim 14 billion calories and 1.8 billion fat grams from Super Bowl party snack attacks.

Fat-free and non-fat foods are plentiful on store shelves, and the Calorie Control Council suggests serving such foods at your Super Bowl party. Fat-free salsa, non-fat yogurt, etc. Fresh vegetables with low-fat dips, too, can slim down your party menu.

Consider, too, what you eat in the days leading up to the game-day party. Cut back on the caloric intake if you plan to party hearty during the Super Bowl game.

Also in the mix of methods to balance the Super Bowl Day binging: get up and move. Yes, we’re talking the E-word: exercise. Walk awhile, play touch football, make snow angels (going out on a limb, or least out on a snow shovel handle, we predict snow will still be with us on Sunday).

And about the Calorie Control Council...did you know such an association exists?

The Calorie Control Council, established in 1966, is an international association representing the low- and reduced-calorie food and beverage industry. Today it represents manufacturers and suppliers of low- and reduced-calorie foods and beverages, including manufacturers and suppliers of more than two dozen different alternative sweeteners, fibers, and other low-calorie, dietary ingredients.

Okay then. (Resist. Resist. The Urge. For A Buttery, Sugary Cookie)

Perhaps we need a Calorie Control Council for reasons such as this: the super-hyped touchdown tower.....drumstick roll, please... the 47-layer dip, tipping the scales (literally, figuratively) with foods such as chicken nuggets, nachos, sloppy joes, Chex mix, anything with bacon, and french fries. To make this dish, simply stack together whatever your make and whatever food your guests bring. Sounds like a mess fest, a fumble-jumble.

You could stick instead with the popular seven-layer dip. Refried beans; guacamole; a blend of taco seasoning, mayo, and sour cream, topped with diced tomatoes, sliced green onions, sliced black olives, and shredded cheddar cheese. Don’t forget the tortilla chips.

Resisted the cookie; can’t resist a football fan’s parting message.

Go Steelers.

And yes, Terry Bradshaw, I still have your book you autographed for me and the football you personalized for me. A huge regret: when I actually went to a Super Bowl game, you weren’t on the field. Sigh.