MUSC Medical Links Charleston Links Archives Medical Educator Speakers Bureau Seminars and Events Research Studies Research Grants Catalyst PDF File Community Happenings Campus News

Return to Main Menu

Super Bowl snacks can be healthy

For more information about healthy snacking and to sample some healthy snack choices, visit the Wellness Wednesday booth Jan. 31 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Children’s Hospital lobby.
 
While many are excited that long-heralded quarterback Peyton Manning is headed to the Super Bowl to face the infamous Chicago Bears, the annual football extravaganza is no reason to throw away efforts to eat healthy and exercise.
 
The following are tips to allow you to participate in the festivities with family and friends without sacrificing your healthy attitudes.
  • Snacking is only necessary if there will be more than four to five hours between meals.
  • Only snack when hungry, not when bored or feeling “the munchies.”
  • Be sure snack time is pre-planned (for example:  you had an early breakfast, and you will be with friends for a late lunch; plan a snack in-between, but only when you feel hungry.)
  • Pre-portion your snacks so that you can “grab and go” healthy items.
  • Unhealthy snacks, or junk food, can add a lot of extra calories, bad fat, sodium, and sugar to your daily intake (examples: chips, cookies, soda, candy bars, etc.)
  • Healthy snacks can help get you through to your next meal, and can provide nutrition (examples: fruit, popcorn, yogurt, pretzels, baked chips, one serving of peanut butter, one serving of cheese, fresh vegetables like carrots or celery, etc.)
  • Let snacks be a good way for you to fit in your fruits and vegetables for the day.

Weekly tips from the Healthy S.C. Challenge
Healthy S.C. Challenge is a results-oriented initiative created by Gov. Mark Sanford and first lady Jenny Sanford to motivate people to start making choices that can improve health and well-being. Visit http://www.healthysc.gov.
Physical activity
Say no to binge eating by exercising. Instead of eating that donut, put on those sneakers and go for a brisk walk. Exercise provides powerful and immediate relief of stress, tension and anxiety that commonly is the initial trigger for hunger and binges.

Editor's note: The preceding column was brought to you on behalf of Health 1st. Striving to bring various topics and representing numerous employee wellness organizations and committees on campus, this weekly column seeks to provide MUSC, MUHA and UMA employees with current and helpful information concerning all aspects of health.


   

Friday, Jan. 26, 2007
Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.