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Football has arrived, and with it, even more importantly to some, tailgating season. That means it’s time to grab a sweater, gather up your friends, and head to the stadium to see your favorite teams play. But beware; this can also be the time to pick up a few pounds from those tasty but calorie-filled tailgating foods like dips, fried foods and alcohol.
It’s almost silly to say this but, the foods and drinks at tailgates are often not healthy. Now we’ll all admit to understanding the concepts of being overweight, or if more extreme, obese, but even if you don’t eat these rich foods all the time, they can contribute to a condition known as ‘overfat.’
What is overfat?
Overfat is a relatively new term in the medical community. It describes the very common condition of having excess fat in areas that are associated with medical complications, even if someone doesn’t look overweight. An example would be an otherwise-healthy person with a ‘beer belly.’”
Overfat differs from being overweight or obese because it’s usually harder to see. In fact, someone can be overfat even if they are a normal weight. The main concern for overfat people is that the fat can wrap around vital organs and increase the risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.
To avoid the post-tailgate pounds, try these five healthy tailgating tips.
Step away from the frying pan
Frying up foods in oils is a big contributor to weight gain. Even in moderation, fried food intake should be watched closely to avoid packing on extra pounds. Using lighter oils such as olive oil, avocado oil and canola oil, or cook without oil to help make any food instantly healthier.
Instead of frying foods like wings, try baking, grilling or roasting them. Oil-less preparation methods will drop the fat content of these foods significantly. Consider spicing up your preparation (literally) by adding seasoning to boost the flavor.
Keep the red meat to a minimum
Red meat is high in cholesterol and saturated fats — both of these can lead to weight gain and heart disease if left unchecked.
Try swapping your red meats for poultry with dishes like turkey burgers or chicken sausage. If you are convinced you still need red meat flavor, try lean bison.
Generally, it’s a good idea to avoid tailgate favorite hot dogs since they are often full of fats, salts and nitrates. If you really need hot dogs at your tailgate, try chicken, turkey or bison frankfurters.
Swap out the mayo
Similar to fried foods, mayonnaise has a lot of oil in it. An average tablespoon of mayo can have 100 calories and two grams of saturated fat, making it a pretty calorie-dense food.
Instead of mayo in potato salads, deviled eggs or other mayo-based dishes, try substituting Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt has a similar consistency and taste with more nutrition and less fat.
Make your own chips
There’s probably no way to completely avoid fried foods at a tailgate — especially when it comes to chips. Instead of buying chips at the grocery store, try making your own.
Cut up your own potatoes and use lower-fat oils if you want to fry them, or bake the chips to avoid unnecessary fat. You can also try making delicious chips out of other foods like plantains, pita bread, sweet potatoes or kale.
Make your own dips
And where would your fresh new chips be without dip? Store-bought dip, like store-bought chips, can contain high amounts of fats and preservatives — neither of which are good for your body.
Try making your own dips like tzatziki, guacamole, pico de gallo, salsa and more. Besides, freshly-made dips always taste better and are sure to be a party-pleaser.
Getting together with friends and family at a football game and adding the fun of tailgating is a great way to enjoy the fall. With a little extra work and some planning, you can make it a healthy time too — just avoid the stress of backing a chronic loser if you can help it!
