The NFL season can only mean one thing – your weekends are booked solid until Super Bowl Sunday on February 2, 2014. But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to plenty of other activities for the next three months.
 
1. Eating Healthy
 
Football Sundays, whether you're tailgating with your buddies or watching the game at home by alone, beer usually becomes breakfast and lunch and dinner consists of never-ending assortment of buffalo wings, hot dogs and pizzas. But that doesn’t mean you can’t stay healthy. Instead of greasy unhealthy foods, add greens to your diet and instead of a regular pizza try this recipe: Ingredients:
-2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
-3 cups thinly sliced onions
-20 ounces prepared whole-wheat pizza dough
-1/3 cup chopped walnuts
-2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
-2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
-Freshly ground pepper, to taste
-2 ripe but firm pears, sliced
-1/2 cup finely crumbled blue cheese
 
 
Preparation

1. Place oven rack in the lowest position; preheat to 450°F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
2. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until starting to brown, about 6 minutes. Reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft and golden, 5 to 8 minutes more.
3. Meanwhile, roll out dough on a lightly floured surface to the size of the baking sheet. Transfer to the baking sheet. Bake until puffed and lightly crisped on the bottom, 8 to 10 minutes. Toast walnuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Stir vinegar, sage and pepper into the onions. Spread on the crust and top with pears, walnuts and cheese. Bake on the bottom rack until the crust is crispy and golden and the cheese is melted, 11 to 13 minutes. Slice and serve.

 
 2. Exercise!
If the only exercise you’re getting is lifting your arm to put food in your mouth, you’re just not doing it right. Don’t just watch the millionaires on TV getting their blood pumping. Meet your friends in the park for flag football on Saturday, or even jog a lap around the block during halftime.
 
3. Healthy Snacking
Your snacks don’t have to be packed with sugar and unhealthy in order to be absolutely delicious. Instead have a Sunday’s best fruit salad and some power cookies.
  Ingredients:
-1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, juice reserved
-2 apples, peeled and cored
-1 (21 ounce) can peach pie filling
-2 bananas, peeled and diced
-3 kiwis
-1 pint strawberries
 
 
Preparation

1. In a small bowl, toss the chopped apples in reserved pineapple juice. Allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. In a large salad bowl, combine the peach pie filling and pineapple chunks.
3. Remove apples from pineapple juice and add to pie filling and pineapple mixture. Add chopped bananas to reserved pineapple juice and let sit for 5 to 10 minutes.
4. Peel and slice kiwi and 1/2 of strawberries. Chop the other 1/2 of strawberries and set aside.
5. Remove bananas from pineapple juice and add to pie filling mixture. Add chopped strawberries; toss together.
6. Arrange kiwi slices around the edge of the serving bowl and alternate with strawberry slices. Chill and serve.

   
Ingredients:
-4 cups rolled oats
-1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
-1/2 cup white sugar
-1/2 cup brown sugar
-1 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1 teaspoon baking powder
-1 teaspoon baking soda
-1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
-1/2 cup chopped pitted dates
-1/2 cup flaked coconut
-1/2 cup raisins
-1/2 cup chopped walnuts
 
Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Grind the oats in a blender until resembling coarse flour.
2. In a medium bowl, mash beans to a smooth paste. Stir in the white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until well blended. Combine the ground oats, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon; blend into the bean mixture. Stir in the dates, coconut, raisins and walnuts. Drop dough by heaping spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 
 4. Family Time
Your family may not understand your passion for football, but get them in on the game. Take the kids in the back yard or down the street to the park instead of turning into a football-watching zombie for half the year. Morning stretches will take you far with your children because exercising will boost your energy to keep up with them throughout the day!
 
5. Don't Forget the Pup!
Like the children, your dog enjoys the excitement and wants to play and get their exercise just as bad. Play catch with a small football while staying in football spirit!