141.1 million Americans (half of the US population) watched Superbowl XLV last night, packing local bars and claiming the number one spot for in-home parties with an estimated 7.5 million homes. The Superbowl is the most celebrated non-official American holiday in the calendar year. The downside to this holiday is the mark it leaves on our waistlines: behind Thanksgiving and Christmas, the Superbowl sets the record for the most calories consumed by Americans in any given day. The average Superbowl snacker consumed 1200 calories in food, just during the game. The Snack Food Association has estimated that yesterday sports fans consumed 11.2 million pounds of potato chips, 8.2 million pounds of tortilla chips, 4.3 million pounds of pretzels, 3.8 million pounds of popcorn, and 2.5 million pounds of nuts.
Don’t let these numbers guilt you, though. Just as King Solomon said, there is a time for everything. There are simply days meant for celebration and living. So, just as the Packers celebrate their triumphant win over the Steelers, so too should you celebrate the solidarity that was shared throughout our nation last night. Let go of the guilt, remember that every day is a clean slate, and keep celebrating life.
