Cutting back on fats, sugar and salt is the cornerstone of healthier eating. But traditional Super Bowl food choices like pizza, fried chicken wings, dips and chips make sticking to healthier eating seem impossible. 

Of course, if entertaining at home, there is more control as to what is on the menu - but what if you're meeting your friends at one of our local sports bars to watch the game? Well believe it or not there is a way to both enjoy the game with friends and eat healthier as well. The secret is in being prepared to execute your planned strategy.

There's no need for days of planning or assessment, nor does one need to have their food's nutritional values completely memorized. No, all that is needed is to take a close look at the choices available in the entire menu - not just in the appetizer section. These appetizers are the usual culprits for interfering with healthier eating.

Let me offer you some suggestions that will have you celebrate your healthy eating way, regardless to your favorite team winning or losing.

Here in Lynnfield we have the Bostonville Grille and the Fat Cactus, which offer fine settings for enjoying the game. While their menu at a glance may not be a treasure trove of healthy choices, a closer look will reveal options that fit into your eating strategy. 

At The Bostonville Grille, a thin crust pizza with cheese or veggie pizza in a 12 inch size instead of the 18 inch is just as satisfying. Adding a house salad and a steak tips salad or turkey tips makes for a varied and satisfying spread the whole group will enjoy. 

 The Fat Cactus also offers several choices deemed healthy-eating friendly with just a bit of tweaking. Choose pinchos camarones- grilled shrimp- without the agave glaze on the appetizer options. 

Let the cheese and tortilla strips on the Fat Cactus house salad be the treat on these Mexican staples. As for the cheese, sour cream and guacamole served with the sizzling fajitas and los clasicos, these are best kept to a minimum, 1-2 teaspoons. Keep the tortilla chips basket as far away as possible.  Limiting these sides helps shave off extra fat, sugar and salt while still allowing sharing of a fun meal and a good time.  

So go ahead, partake in all the hoopla of watching the Super Bowl at a sports bar and still stay on course with your healthy eating goals.