KOAM TV 7 Joplin and PittsburgHealthy alternatives for Super Bowl Sunday snacks

Healthy alternatives for Super Bowl Sunday snacks

The Super Bowl is only two days away and fans are expected to celebrate with food.

According to national statistics Super Bowl Sunday is the second largest food consumption day of the year, next to Thanksgiving, but there are healthy alternatives to all of that junk food intake.

Nutrition specialist Martha Murphy offers a strategy to survive the big game without fumbling your diet.

"If you're bringing dips you might want to choose a base that's lower fat, such as yogurt or cottage cheese, or low fat or fat free sour cream, mayo, whatever your recipe calls for, but usually those are very successful in reducing calories in the dip, and then add some veggies to it, maybe some chopped up spinach makes it a little healthier," says Murphy, an agent with the K-State Extension office.  "We in the nutrition world like to say there are no bad foods, there are bad diets."

Murphy also suggests using salsa rather than nacho cheese as a dip.

But, she says it's more important to watch the way you eat.

"Position yourself so that the foods not in arm's reach.  In other words, so you have to actually get up and walk over to where the food is.  And think about the portions of what you are getting."

Another way to decrease your calorie intake is to eat slow.  Murphy says it takes 20 minutes for your brain to realize your body is full.