The Healthy Way to Tailgate This Football Season
By Debra Rodzinak
Pizza and burgers are fine once in a while when you're hanging out at the stadium before the big game, but for those who need to watch their caloric intake or are trying to eat a healthy diet, more friendly options are available.
Healthier Choices Can Be Tasty
Admit it, nobody likes to eat a dry stale rice cake when there is ice cream and junk food around. It can be about as fun as getting punked by a Raiders fan. It's miserable to be around tasty fat-laden foods and not partake. However, if you don’t feel like you are depriving yourself of taste, then it becomes easier to eat healthier foods. Here are a few foods you can have at your tailgating party, or any other time, that won’t break the calorie bank.
Guacamole and Chips
- Take 2 whole-wheat tortillas and cut them into quarters. Bake on nonstick cookie sheet at 400Ëš until chips are crispy.
- Peel, then mash the avocado. Combine with tomato, onion, lime juice, and hot pepper sauce. (If you are not into cutting a whole host of vegetables, you can purchase fresh salsa.)
- The chips can be made before the game and sealed in a bag. I would wait to peel the avocado, or add a little lime juice to the mix to prevent browning.
- Calories: 508, Protein: 16g, Fat: 21g
Spicy Kale Chips
- Take 2 cups of kale leaves. Remove the ribs and break into 3 inch pieces.
- Toss kale pieces with 1 tsp of olive, paprika, and salt.
- Bake in a 350Ëš oven until crisp.
- Calories: 107, Protein: 5g, Fat: 5g
Peanut Butter Poppers
- Mix 1/4 cup of peanut butter with 2 tbsp milk, and 1 tbsp of sesame seeds and honey
- Roll into half-inch balls
- Chill in fridge for 5 minutes
- Calories: 500, Protein: 19g, Fat: 36g
Chicken Burritos
- Take 1 boiled, boneless, skinless chicken breast and mix with 1 cup cooked brown rice
- Steam 1/2 cup asparagus and combine with 1/4 cup diced tomato, and 1/4 avocado
- Layer all ingredients on a whole-wheat wrap and top with a small bit of cheese
- Calories: 490, Protein: 37g, Fat: 15g
Berry-Granola Parfait
- Layer 1/2 cup of blueberries, 6 ounces of plain yogurt, and a crumbled whole-grain granola bar in a parfait glass
- Calories: 225, Protein: 11g, Fat: 6g
All of these recipes can be partially prepared beforehand at home and assembled at the tailgating party. Simple, flavor-filled foods can allow you to still participate in the fun of tailgating without feeling like you are depriving yourself of taste.