Super snacks for football season

CHICOPEE, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - Do you enjoy beer, soda, chips, wings, or chili in front of the T.V., while watching football? Let's face it - we all have those days where we lay on the couch, watch TV and munch on food that just isn't really that good for us. Since it is football season, we are going to show you some super snacks that you can enjoy at your next get together that won't have you feeling guilty! To tell us all about the couch potato diet is Greg Ladas.

Basically, I found in my life that weight loss is as simple as making wiser choices in your diet. I'm a couch potato and I love things like everyone else: chips, peanuts, pizza, cookies, cakes, ice cream, even soda. What I found is that you can find more healthful alternatives for foods that are a little lower in fat, in sugar and ultimately in calories. You eat those more healthful foods and the weight comes off.

I was relatively fit in my 20s, but found that my metabolism started to slow down getting into my 30s. By the time I was 34, I was over 200 pounds. I realized that I needed to make some changes in order to lose some weight, and never thought I'd be able to do that because of the types of foods that I enjoyed. However, once I realized how easy it was to find these more healthful alternatives that are lower in calories, I started working those into my diet routine and the weight came off, and stayed off over five years now.

I'm not sure if you realize that Super Bowl Sunday, next to Thanksgiving, is the biggest eating day of the year. For the average football fan who enjoys pro football, which is a 17 week season, it means probably 17 weekends a year that the refrigerator is getting blitzed. So, what I did is I looked at my routine. I picked out more healthful alternatives.

We can start with everybody's couch favorite which is beer. The reality is enjoying sports, a lot of people love to cut loose and have a few beers. A regular six pack of Budweiser is about 900 calories. But, Budweiser has a Bud Select for 55. If you consume six beers, you can save 600 calories by making this easy switch. Budweiser puts this out because it tastes great.

What I recommend in drinking beer is alternate between beer and a bottle of water because with every other sip, ultimately, will cut down on your scurmings of beer, which is a hulky thing. Another alternative would be to be to have a Rum and Diet Coke. It has the potency, but under 100 calories.

Instead of potato chips dipped in ranch dressing, why not go for a more healthful alternative like the fit and active brand. These rice cakes will save you over 100 calories and 30 grams of fat over the potato chips. If you are adding your ranch dressing, 14 grams per serving. Even a better option, and couch potatoes don't necessarily like to eat carrots, but when having your buffalo wings, you have carrots and celery, right?

You can eat a pound of carrots for 140 calories. A bag of potato chips is 900 calories. You can ultimately save a ton of calories and it's very filling.

Doritos. If you like a nacho cheese, Trader Joe's sells spicy chips which only have 9 carbs, 8 carbs less than Doritos. They add flaxseed, so you get omega acids, which is heart healthy and adds fiber, which is important for ultimately feeling more full and aids in your digestion.

Once you start reducing your body's consumption of sugars, what it will start to do is burn your stored fat. If you take in too many sugars and carbohydrates, your body never burns the stored fat. Sugar-free options are always a great option.

For those interested in eating a healthy chili, check out the recipe below.

Healthy Chili Recipe

• 90% Lean beef or turkey
• 1 Large can crushed tomatoes
• 1 Small can diced tomatoes
• 30% Less sodium chili seasoning
• Cayenne pepper (optional)

Mix together in a saucepan on low heat and stir until it's blended. Cook for 20 minutes.

For more information on the couch Potato Diet, check out the website:  TheCouchPotatoDiet.com