Thursday, September 5, 2019

Tips For Healthy and Safe Tailgating




Take a Tailgate Time Out
Before you dive into the buffet, follow these tips to curb your caloric intake: 
Earn a little splurge on Saturday afternoon by saving a few food items from your eating plan during the week.
Before the festivities begin, have a small snack that contains protein and fiber (like cereal and yogurt) so you'll be less tempted to overeat.
Survey all the offerings before you load your plate, then select plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean dairy and protein.
Eat from a plate instead of continually grazing from the buffet. This will help you keep track of how much you're eating.
Remember that alcohol has plenty of calories. One tactic is to alternate alcoholic drinks with zero-calorie beverages throughout the day. Remember that too much alcohol can lead to increased hunger. 

Score Points With Guests
If you're the party host, do your fellow fans a favor by making sure your buffet includes plenty of healthy offerings such as:
Fresh fruit, sliced or in salads or kabobs
Assorted vegetables with low-fat dips and salsas
Low-fat snacks such as popcorn, pretzels, and baked chips
Lean meats and seafood and low-fat cheeses
Whole-grain breads and crackers
Salads made with light dressings
Salsas, wraps, salads, or stews made with fiber-filled and high- protein beans

Touchdown Tips for Food Safety
According to the American Dietetic Association, the average sports fan partakes in tailgating five times during a football season. And according to a recent survey, most tailgaters take unnecessary food-poisoning risks. Food is often kept at temperatures that promote bacterial contamination. Many tailgaters also recycle pre-game picnic food to eat again after the game.

Follow these guidelines to keep your food out of the danger zone:
Make sure foods that will be served cold are cold before you put them in the cooler.
Don't use a cooler that's too large. A full cooler will keep foods cold longer.
Carefully package raw meat. Put it in the bottom of the cooler to avoid drips and cross-contamination
Pack coolers just before you leave for the game, and use ice packs to maintain temperatures.
Use a thermometer in your cooler to be sure foods stay at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Keep coolers out of the sun, perhaps under a tree.
Bring waterless hand sanitizer or moistened towelettes to keep hands clean.
Bring a meat thermometer to ensure that burgers and brats are cooked to 160 degrees and chicken breasts to 170 degrees.
Throw away any perishable foods that are left from your pre-game picnic so no one will be tempted to eat them after the game.
Do not leave food unrefrigerated for more than two hours. In hot weather (90 degrees or above), the time limit is one hour.

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