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.