A Serving of Super Bowl Commercials Will Cost You 2500 Calories

By Lacy J. Hansen for DietsInReview.com

Even those who never watch a football game will tune in to watch the Ravens, 49ers, and of course the commercials this Sunday. Expect another banner year of great ads that will have us all talking Monday morning. However, while many cars and digital products will have their high-priced moments in the sun, most of those ad minutes will be dedicated to some of the most unhealthy foods our country has to offer.



Gail Falkenthal reported for The Washington Times about the going rates of this year's sold-out ads. A 30 second spot on Sunday costs $3.5 million while a hotter spot closer to kickoff goes for about $4 million.

What he, nor the ads, will spotlight is how terrible these foods are for us. If you had one serving from the biggest food and drink commercials, you'd wrack up 2577 calories in Cokes, Pepsi Next, Volcano Nachos, new and old Budweisers, Doritos, Oreos, and M&Ms. That number even includes Wonderful Pistachios and Milk, two snacks we fully endorse! And that's before you dig in to even a Lighter Buffalo Chicken Dip!

While the ads are entertaining, let your enjoyment of the products end there. The calories and junk ingredients used in these Super Bowl commercial all-stars aren't worth an ad-prompted buy.

Just one bottle of Coca-Cola Classic has 240 calories and 65 grams of sugar. That's double the amount of sugar in a Snickers candy bar, if you were wanting some perspective. Coca-Cola has an interactive ad that features groups of people in the desert racing after a full Coke bottle mirage and we get to pick the winner.

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Taco Bell's Volcano Burrito has 790 calories and 41 grams of fat, while the Volcano Nachos have 970 calories and 58 grams of fat. Far more appealing is their commercial, which features an unlikely gang of retirement home escapees that hit up night clubs, tattoo parlors, and then Taco Bell for a late night meal.

Pepsi Next will share ad space with half-time diva Beyonce. The 40-calorie soda is certainly a lighter alternative to the 150-calorie standard Pepsi that will also see air time. If the lower calorie angle doesn't win anyone over, this ad is rumored to be the only one scheduled on Sunday with a bleeped word.

Doritos is another Super Bowl veteran that's big on empty calories, 140 to be exact for just 11 chips! They'll be running several ads featuring submissions from amateur filmmakers. While the concept of budding filmmakers seems to take the emphasis off the cheesy chips, it can't go without saying that the snacks are yet another high calorie, low nutrient food choice.

Anheuser-Busch secured air time for all 180 calories of its new Budweiser Black Crown Beer, a spot for the new Beck's Sapphire Brew with the same calories, and of course will have plenty of air time for Bud Light at 110 calories per brewski. There's no specifics out on their ads yet, but they're always some of the game's favorites. Use your beer to make these Beer Braised Pork Tacos!

A few other big brands advertising on Sunday include M&Ms (250 calories), Oreos (161 calories), Milk (146 calories), and Wonderful Pistachios (160 calories). We of course enjoy the latter, which you could use to make our Winter Granola.

Let the big names drop the millions. You laugh at the ads and then buy healthier options.

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