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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Women in Business Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend February 4, 2007 Supper Bowl XLI Football fans tackle their own big game: the battle between what they should eat — and what they will eat — in front of the TV Chips, beer, pizza, nachos, pop — the Super Bowl party has evolved into being a major cultural event that's almost as much of a food holiday as Thanksgiving. In fact, says regional Weight Watcher coordinator Marty Edinger of Central Point, Super Bowl Sunday has become such a fattening event that lots of people don't start the new diet on New Year's — they wait till the last football is thrown in February. "Food is definitely out of the comfort range and out of control at Super Bowl parties. All those smells and it looks good and everyone's excited and eating it, so it must be OK," says Edinger. "Your best-laid plans go down, you overeat, then guilt sets in and it seems more food might make you feel better. It can take four to six weeks to get back in balance from a binge like that." Though yummy, the worst offenders are fat-laden chips and dip, fried finger foods, deli snacks with mayo and cheese, super-sized sandwiches you slap together at a buffet and, of course, the mother's milk of football, beer. Advertisement The good news is, even though it's Super Bowl Sunday, you don't have to eat fat. "In the old days, the worst stuff at Super Bowl parties were cocktail weenies, nachos with melted Velveeta cheese on it, stuff like that" says Erin Page an emigrant to Ashland from Chicago Bears country. "Now, I serve layered taco salad, fresh-made guacamole and homemade chili — both vegetarian and with meat." Her husband, Bears fan Russ Page, lauds the chili as a "hearty, non-fattening health food that you can put lots of good stuff into for a nice winter meal." It goes good with beer, but the nauseous feeling of being stuffed beer and carb-heavy snacks after four long quarters has forced a switch to the mimosa, a low-carb drink of champagne and healthy orange juice, something, he adds, that would probably get him beat up in a real Chicago Bears party. What Rick Keck of Ashland wants at 3 o'clock today, is "any food that you can hold while sitting in front of a TV, so you don't have to go to the table and miss anything." But not trans-fat takeout food or French fries. "Outside of that, I will eat just about anything. A grilled sandwich is perfect." At Northwest Pizza, manager Rick Gutierrez says fans flocking to the big screen favor beer, pizza, buffalo wings and jojos (fried/roasted potato wedges) with beer and pop, but most start with a foundation of veggies from the salad bar. To tiptoe safely past this trans fat meltdown, Medford dietitian Christy Morrell advises don't go to the party hungry — and bring a dish that you can eat and still stay on your diet. If you're the host, tell guests to BYOB and you will make the (healthy) dishes, then put them away after everyone has served themselves. What's healthy and still fun on Super Bowl Sunday? Fruit salad always gets eaten, Morrell says. If you bring veggies, don't put out raw broccoli and cauliflower. People don't eat them. Go with fun veggies — olives, cheese, avocado dip, sliced carrots and red bell peppers. Above all, remember you're there to have fun, she says, and if you overdo it, don't leap off the cliff with self-judgments — just get back on the diet where you were Saturday. John Darling is a freelance writer living in Ashland. E-mail him at [email protected]. Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary