Super Bowl will be playing out on our TVs this weekend. Along with it will be some hilarious commercials and also an overabundance of food.
Super Bowl Sunday ranks up there with Thanksgiving as one of days of the year with the highest average caloric consumption. For gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and gastric band patients, consuming more calories than they need is contrary to their goal of achieving weight loss. Even more than that, though, consuming that many calories can be dangerous for bariatric patients. Nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, gastric pain and cramping, and potentially stretching your pouch can be possible consequences of overeating.
It’s easier for Dr. Shillingford’s gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band patients to control their food intake on Super Bowl Sunday if they have post op bariatric diet food compatible available to choose from. If you watch the game in your own home, it should be easy to have bariatric friendly foods available. You know what you like and what you can tolerate. If you are going out to watch the game, consider bringing something with you that you know you can eat based on your stage of your post op bariatric surgery diet. We’ve compiled a few ideas that we think are both bariatric friendly but will also be a hit among other Super Bowl viewers:
- Mini Meatballs
- Turkey Tacos in Lettuce Cups
- Zucchini Chips
- Roasted Cauliflower Florets
- Mini Pizzas made with Eggplant Rounds
- Meat and Cheese Roll Ups
- Homemade Hummus with Cucumbers, Broccoli, Peppers, and Asparagus Crudite
- Chili topped with Diced Avocado
- Chicken and Vegetable Kebabs
Bariatric patients can successfully tackle Super Bowl Sunday by focusing on their everyday post bariatric surgery guidelines. Eat slowly and chew your food well. Chose protein, then vegetables, fruits, healthy fats, and then whole grain carbohydrates. Sip your water, avoid carbonation and alcohol. Listen to your body, stop eating when you feel full. And remember to fit in some physical activity. Super Bowl Sunday is a great day to get out and play a game of family football or catch. Dance to the music during halftime. Challenge a friend to a one on one game of basketball, or go for a friendly walk. Work out your nervous energy by channeling it into exercise.
The above ideas are offered by Dr. Shillingford, MD, PA, a board certified surgeon specializing in advanced laparoscopic and weight loss surgery. Dr. Shillingford’s gastric sleeve, gastric bypass, and lap band surgery patients often travel to his Boca Raton office from nearby locations like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Coral Springs, but they also travel from Orlando, Jacksonville, and Tampa. Dr. Shillingford’s obesity surgery patients, like many other people trying to lose weight, are often looking for support and ways to control their eating habits on food centered holidays, like Super Bowl.
