It’s an epic clash of titans that calls for chips, dips, and mountains of other calorie-heavy snacks. But there’s no need to give up your new healthy habits while enjoying the game if you don’t want to – here’s how to score big with healthier choices this Super Bowl Sunday.

Your game plan:

  • Hydration is key. Water should be your BFF while you’re trying to lose weight, and it’s especially important if you’re going to be over-indulging as drinking enough water pre-kickoff will help curb overeating later. Water is the real MVP, but anything unsweetened is great for hydration – think unsweetened iced tea, or sparkling water with fruit slices. Just give the sugary, calorific sodas a miss.
  • Try something healthier. Dips and chips are the classic game day snack, and with good reason. We’re not suggesting you ban them from the table but try and supplement them with something a bit healthier. Slices of colorful bell peppers, crunchy carrot sticks, and cherry tomatoes are great for dipping and will help you boost your vegetable intake. Pair with healthier dips like hummus or a lite version of spinach and artichoke dip made with Greek yoghurt instead of cream cheese.
  • Swap the chips. Like we said, chips are just made for game day. Swap the greasy fried chips for baked tortilla chips, sweet potato chips, or even air-popped popcorn. Puffed chips and veggie chips tend to be lower in calories, so look out for them when you’re at the grocery store.
  • Avoid mindless eating. You know how easy it is to get carried away when you’re engrossed in the action on TV – before you know it your family sized bag of chips is almost empty. Portion your snacks out into individual bowls so you know how much you’re eating. This is also a good strategy if you want to plan how much you’re going to eat in advance.
  • Pack in the protein. Protein keeps you fuller for longer, so keep hunger at bay with protein-rich snacks. Turkey meatballs, deviled eggs (made with a lighter recipe), and mini chicken skewers are great options. Wings are another classic, which is great as they’re high in protein, but the way they’re cooked and the sauces you add to them can really bump up the calories. Broil or bake your wings, and use hot sauce as a low-calorie sauce. There are plenty of low-calorie sauce recipes out there: check out this low-calorie buffalo sauce.
  • Lighten up the dips. Some creamy dips are high in calories, so look for ones made with yoghurt, or go for salsa or bean dips to cut the cals. Or make your own! Guacamole is a good choice, especially if you’re making it yourself and can load it up with diced tomatoes and onions.
  • Get active. If you’re watching with friends or family, why not see if you can get them involved with a bit of friendly competition? See who can do the most push-ups or hold a plank the longest during the commercial breaks or see who can mimic the players best (this is especially fun if you’re watching with kids). You could even get up and dance during the halftime show to get your heart pumping, why not?!

While there are plenty of things you can do to lighten up your Super Bowl, if you want to go all out and celebrate that’s fine too. Just remember to take time to savor every mouthful, and don’t worry about it if you’ve overindulged. It’s just one evening, which isn’t going to derail your weight loss efforts in the long term.