You’d have to shake it to Bruno’s song to burn off that chip. Credit: REUTERS/Eric Thayer/Files
Super Bowl Sunday has become much more than a football game: It’s the second biggest day for food consumption in the United States after Thanksgiving. So, to choose the most splurgeworthy foods, here are the exercise equivalents* for some of your favorite football snacks from Charles Platkin, PhD, MPH, public health advocate, editor of DietDetective.com and Distinguished Lecturer at Hunter College and City University of New York School of Public Health.
One-foot Italian sub=Walking the Brooklyn Bridge more than 14 times (or 16.2 miles)
Fit Tip: Skip the mayo and cheese.
Just one Doritos chip=Dancing to Bruno Mars’ “Locked Out of Heaven” during halftime
You would have to dance to the entire song (if it’s played for about 3:54 minutes) to burn off just one Doritos chip, which has 12 3/4 calories.
Fit Tip: You’re better off nutritionally with a few pistachio nuts or roasted almonds.
Six Chili’s Fajita Beef Classic Nachos (Large)=Running 242.5 football fields
Plus, you would have to run every one at an average speed of 5 mph (the average walking pace is approximately 3 mph).
Fit Tip: You can lower the calories by using a low fat cheese, chicken breast and skipping the sour cream.
Four swigs of Bud Light=Eight minutes of playing professional football
Taking just 4 swigs of Bud light will cost you about 36 calories.
Fit Tip: The best would be Beck’s Premier Light at only 64 calories per 12-ounce bottle, or Miller 64. Michelob Ultra and Natural Light each have 95, or you can go very low with Budweiser Select 55. Sample a few light beers before the game to see which ones you prefer.
Fifteen Pizza Hut Buffalo Burnin Hot Crispy Bone-in Wings dipped in ranch: Doing “The Wave” 9,461 times
Fit Tip: You can make your own chicken wings. Go skinless and bake instead of deep frying them.
Four Tostitos Scoops! Tortilla chips with guacamole=133 touchdown dances in the end zone
Fit Tip: Guacamole is high in calories, but packed with good nutrients, just don’t sit with a big bowl of chips and guac in front of you while you mindless watch the game.
Four Papa John’s Cheese Sticks with garlic sauce with cheese=Face-painting 23 fans
Fit Tip: Check out the 30 calorie version from Cooking Light (see: http://bit.ly/1bOtGT7)
Five pigs in a blanket=36 minutes selling food as a stadium vendor
According to articles on Boston.com and in the New York Times, the average stadium vendor walks an average of four to five miles per game, up and down stairs, carrying a 40-pound bin.
Fit Tip: Use low fat hot dogs (or turkey dogs) and reduced-fat crescent rolls.
Three slices of Pizza Hut Pepperoni Pizza Lover’s Pizza Works=322 minutes cleaning the stadium after the game
You’re looking at more than 1320 calories (440 per slice).
Fit Tip: Get thin crust pizza with veggies and eat it for lunch, not just as a half-time snack.
