Football season is upon us and you know what that means? Monday Night Football (MNF). So you know while MNF is on, he will want some game-time munchies. But this doesn’t mean you have to feed him buttery popcorn, beer and salty pretzels. You might as well just sit back and watch his waistline expand with that meal plan. The Calorie Control Council estimates that the average football fan will put away 1,200 calories and 50 grams of fat from snacks alone. To prevent your partner from eating non-nutritious foods, feed him like a wild gorilla.
We know that football is a brain damaging sport, but snacking during half time doesn’t need to be. There are over 200 studies showing that as your weight (and waistline) goes up, the size of your brain goes down! But the good news is that there is no suffering required on The Omni Diet or The Brain Warrior’s Way meal plan! These are about having an abundance… of the right foods.
Here’s some ways to brain boost your partner’s MNF foods:
Hummus, salsa, and guacamole for dipping raw vegetables
Vegetables and fruits that make for a great dipper:
- Broccoli
- Bell Peppers (My daughter’s favorite vegetable)
- Celery
- Carrots
- Lettuce
- Radishes
- Asparagus
- Snow/Sugar Snap Peas
- Belgian Endive/Chicory
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Jicama
- Cauliflower
- Green Beans
- Apples with Almond butter
- Berries and sugar free chocolate sauce
- Brain in Love Chocolate Bar
What? No chips? You bet! The Omni Diet and Brain Warrior’s Way are both about eating an abundance of food with no suffering. Eating the right foods helps set you up for a foundation of success. Foods made with corn, soy or gluten is never going to be good for our long term health. Swap the unhealthy chips and nachos with brain healthy alternatives for an abundance of brain-boosting antioxidants and other healthy nutrients with every bite.
Check out these Brain Warrior favorites below, and for more ideas visit my snacks or dips recipe pages.
While your partner is going nuts for his favorite team (or players), give him some nuts to snack on.
Nuts are underrated as a nutritious snack. Research studies show that raw nuts such as almonds, cashews, walnuts, and macadamia nuts have been linked to lower cholesterol, improved heart health, weight control, and even reduce the risk of cancer.
What if he thinks plain nuts taste…plain? Well sprinkle cinnamon on them. Or some nutmeg. Heck, even some cacao powder! There are no rules to follow when you use herbs and spices. It is all about finding what combination works for your partner’s taste buds. As a nurse, I use to measure everything carefully and had a hard time doing this at first. But as I learned to relax and experiment, I began to discover healthy, flavor-packed combinations that the entire family loves.
Have him drink sparkling water
Beer and other alcoholic beverages should not make the MNF menu (also avoid sodas). But guess what…plain ole’ regular water doesn’t make the cut either. Although it is important to hydrate with water, that does not matter if your partner hates its bland taste (and rarely drinks it). Instead, quench his thirst with some sparkling water. Give him sparkling water sweetened with root beer–flavored stevia. Or for a rich spa-flavor, add fresh ginger, cucumbers and muddled berries to his sparkling water.
So when your partner starts making noises like a gorilla, because his favorite team scores a touchdown, feed him like one! Use these tactics to make your partner’s MNF food menu Omni and Brain Warrior approved!
