Home Football Game

Healthy Lifestyle Tips

Beware of the Vendors

Foods that can be bought from vendors at sporting events usually aren’t the most nutritious snacks.  Hot dogs, French fries, large sodas, and candy can be a health nuts nightmare.  A large soft pretzel and soda may seem like a snack, but you might as well be eating a loaf of white bread and start chugging down a liter of liquid sugar.  In addition, it’s way over priced. 

Before going to the game be sure to eat a healthy satisfying meal or snack.  Football games can be long so bring snacks in your purse like nuts, fruit,  even half a sandwich if your purse is big enough. That way you have something to munch while you’re cheering on your team (just be careful not to choke on your food between cheers).

Game Day-Drinking Day?

The food dilemma is one thing, but college football games can be an excuse for fans to celebrate, and this celebration can involve alcohol.  Drinking doesn’t only occur after a big win.  You can expect people to drink before a big sporting event, during, and after…win or lose. 

If you choose to drink, do so wisely. Your body can only digest about one drink per hour.  Alcohol has no nutritional value, but packs 7 calories for every gram.  Alcohol is immediately absorbed when it enters the body; alcohol digestion begins right away, which gives other nutrient absorption the boot.

Therefore, when you eat pizza and drink beer your body has to metabolize the alcohol first before it can start breaking down the food. This puts your body into fat storage mode, because the fatty acids that are normally broken down by the liver are on stand-by until the alcohol is absorbed.  All day drinking events can inhibit your body from receiving the proper nutrients it needs, which interferes with your metabolism. 

It’s important to space your drinks out, and limit your drinking to one per hour.

One Alcoholic Drink=

12 ounces of beer

4-5 ounces of wine

1-1.5 ounces of liquor

Alcohol is a diuretic, which can dehydrate you making you feel dizzy and queasy. It’s important to drink plenty of water when you’re drinking alcohol.  Try to always drink 8 ounces of water after every alcoholic drink. 

When drinking alcohol try to remember to:

• Sip don’t chug
• Limit yourself to one alcoholic drink per hour
• Drink water- alternate alcoholic with non-alcoholic beverages
• Try to avoid drinking games which can lead to consuming too much at once
• Set a limit of drinks for the day/night and stick to it
• Have a friend keep track of how many drinks you’ve had; do the same for them
• Eat before drinking to help absorb alcohol
• Never drive; have a plan to get home safely before drinking
• Stay with a friend