March Madness Munching

There’s a lot of buzz about what to eat on Superbowl Sunday, but don’t forget to revisit the topic when March Madness rolls around.  While the Superbowl lasts 3-4 hours, March Madness lasts about 3 weeks!  So your March Madness eating habits can actually have a much larger impact on your health. 

Since 86 percent of employees will devote at least part of their workday to March Madness and 57 percent of employers will allow or embrace it, healthful food choices for those 3 weeks should be on your radar not just at home, but in the break-room at work as well.  

Strategic snacking.  One day of crazy snacking is one thing, but 3 weeks worth is another story.  Your employer is taking enough of a hit with the lost productivity that they don’t need you missing work for health-related reasons.  And coming off of heart-health month, you might want to consider making – SpicyRanch Dip which is a great way to work those veggies into your mouth at home or in the break-room.  Not only will this be a delicious hit with co-workers, but the plant sterols in corn oil block cholesterol.  And to use some sports vernacular, there’s no substitute for a good defense, especially when it comes to reducing cardiovascular disease risk. The American Heart Association’s new presidential advisory strongly advised replacing saturated fats like those found in coconut oil with polyunsaturated fats like corn oil to reduce cardiovascular disease risk by 30 percent.  That is a great defensive strategy.  Working in veggies and whole grains every time you nosh will keep your nutrition high.

Make water your fast-break.  Whether you’re stopping to check scores, or need a breather from an intense overtime, make it a habit to drink water at every break.  Staying hydrated without drinking calories will help keep your body in better game-day shape whether you’re hitting the court or the couch.

Avoid full-court press when it comes to portions. Just because there’s a game on, doesn’t mean you need to eat.  Always obey your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals.  Sometimes that means portioning up and moving away from the food source to eat during the game.  Never move the buffet within reach of the couch.  Keep the food at a distance so that eating remains a deliberate choice. 
Here's my summary of the topic on Good Things Utah: March Madness Munching