Super Bowl celebrations usually mean lots of chips, chicken wings, pizza and of course, beer, which likely an overstuffed belly and maybe even a hangover the next day. One study found that the average American consumes more than 8,083 calories watching the Super Bowl, making it one of  America's biggest eating holidays, just second to Thanksgiving. Guess how many chicken wings Americans will eat on Super Bowl Sunday?  More than one billion.  That's a lot of chickens!  If you woke up after the Superbowl wishing you didn't eat or drink so much, we have some ideas on how to change that this year.

One easy way to cut down on the alcohol is to alternate your beer or drink with a glass of water. Another tip, sit out of arms reach of the chips, nuts or other snacks that we all mindlessly eat while getting swept up in the game. Instead of mindlessly eating chips, pretzels, or other fan favorites from the bowl, load up your dish so at least you have some idea of the amount you will be eating.

While there will be plenty of food with lots of fat and carbs, it won't hurt to at least add a few healthy options like a veggie or fruit plate. It is easy to load up on beer or other alcohol.  Pace yourself and consider having another non-alcoholic beverage between each drink. No one is suggesting we eat tofu during the big game, but there are ways to make some of our favorites a little healthy-ish, especially if we are cooking at home.  For example, we could skip the pepperoni on the pizza or bake wings instead of deep-frying them. Check out these tips and links to some recipes. 

  • Getty Images/iStockphoto/bhofack2
    Getty Images/iStockphoto/bhofack2
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    Lighter Chicken Wings

    More than one billion wings are consumed every Superbowl Sunday, and it doesn't help that delicious fatty sauces like buffalo and barbecue are added on to the wings.  Add some blue cheese dressing and each wing is about 170 calories, but who eats just one? If you are making your own, bake them or use an air fryer. Go light on the toppings and dips.  Here are a few recipes with lower-calorie versions.

  • Afisphoto/Viktor Fischer/Thinkstock
    Afisphoto/Viktor Fischer/Thinkstock
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    Fruit and Veggie Platters

    Fruits and veggies offer a delicious low-carb and calorie option that will give everyone a good source of fiber.  This keeps us feeling fuller and reduces our chance of overeating the wings and pizza. They are also a great alternative to munching mindlessly on chips and nachos.

  • South China Morning Post via Getty
    South China Morning Post via Getty
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    Sweet Potato Skins

    Who doesn't love potato skins, but they can be loaded with fat.  Sweet potatoes offer more fiber and low-fat cheese and salsa verde are sure to make these a hit. Check out the recipe.

  • The Washington Post via Getty
    The Washington Post via Getty
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    Pizza with Pizazz

    More than 12 million pizzas will be sold on Superbowl Sunday, making it one of the most popular foods during the big game.  When ordering, stick with veggie toppings and skip the pepperoni and sausage.  That adds a ton of extra fat. If you are making your own, here are some recipes that make pizza a little healthier.

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