Even if you don’t like football, chances are you’ll be tuning in to watch the Super Bowl this Sunday. And if you’re like just about everyone else, you’ll be chowing down on some game time grub as the New York Giants face the New England Patriots. There are loads of convenient restaurants in the Treasure Valley that offer the kind of food associated with sports event feasts. But have you ever thought about how many calories, and how much fat and sodium you might be consuming? The answers may surprise you.
Before we take a look at the numbers, let it be said that the Boise Healthy Living Examiner constantly touts the “all things in moderation” approach. She feels it's important to indulge once in a while, but wants you to know what you're eating, and how you can burn it off. And she’ll be bringing you some suggestions for healthier snacks later this week. But for now, let’s see how some of these football favorites can be sabotaging your healthy living efforts.
Buffalo wings Maybe you’re tempted to swing by that Buffalo Wild Wings on Eagle Rd., right past St. Luke’s Meridian, and pick up some wings for your Super Bowl feast. That would be convenient, but it won’t do you any favors if you’re watching your calorie intake. A dozen of their hand-spun wings have 864 calories, 60 grams of fat, and 792 mg of sodium. If you weigh 150 pounds, you’ll need to walk for about 4 hours to burn that off. But even though those numbers are astonishing, the wings aren’t even the real culprit. An ounce of Buffalo Wild Wings’ blue cheese dressing contains 280 calories and 30 grams of fat. That’s right—30 grams. Plus another 480 mg of sodium.
Pepperoni pizza Maybe the wings aren't your thing. Say you’d rather call Domino's and order their Large (14”) Deep Dish Pepperoni Pizza. Two slices of that will give you 680 calories, 33 grams of fat, and 1780 mg of sodium. If you weigh 150 pounds, you’ll need to swim for an hour to burn off those two pieces of pizza.
Sub sandwich OK, so wings and pizza don’t seem like the healthiest choices. Let’s say you’d like to enjoy a sub sandwich while the winner of the Vince Lombardi is decided. The Treasure Valley has plenty of Subway locations, and there are plenty of good choices to be made there. But some of the numbers might surprise you. For instance, a 6-inch Italian B.M.T. sub on wheat bread contains 410 calories and 16 grams of fat. That’s not too bad, but check out the sodium—1300 mg, more than half of what you need in a day. If you weigh 150 pounds, you’ll need to ride your bike for an hour to work that off.
Tacos Maybe while Tom Brady is running away from Justin Tuck and the rest of the Giants’ D, you’d like to make a run for the border. If you choose a pair of Taco Bell’s Cheesy Double Decker Tacos, you’re in for 700 calories, 30 grams of fat, and 1440 mg of sodium. Oh, and you’ll be running all right. Lace up your tennis shoes, because if you weigh 150 pounds, you get to jog for an hour and 15 minutes to burn off those two tacos.
Burger Maybe you’d just like to grab something at SmashBurger and call it good. Their location on Eagle Rd. offers the Bronco Burger, a nice nod to the teams of BSU. But it’s got a not so nice 810 calories, 58 grams of fat, and—are you ready—2610 mg of sodium, which is more than you need in a day. Madonna is playing the halftime show. If you weigh 150 pounds, you’ll need to dance to her music for more than 2 hours and 20 minutes to burn off that Bronco Burger.
So, there you go. A little guide to your favorite Super Bowl munchies. Don’t forget to check this column later in the week to read suggestions for healthier Super Bowl snacks.
Talk it up:
Do any of these numbers surprise you?
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