Ready… set… hike! Fall is almost here, which means football season is back! The return of America’s most popular sport marks the beginning of tailgating season, which tends to include calorie-laden drinks, chips, fried foods and don’t forget the burgers and hot dogs! Watching football without food would be incomplete, but is there a way to keep it healthy along the sidelines? Why, of course! Just because it’s football season, doesn’t mean you can’t eat healthily while cheering on your favorite NFL team.Grill Without GuiltBarbecuing doesn’t have to put a damper on fitness and diet goals. There are a lot of ways to stay healthy by lightening up traditional tailgate foods.- Make it lean when it comes to meat options. Try to choose ground meat that is 93% lean or more, if possible.- Bulk up your burger or sandwich with extra vegetables like avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes or onions!- Looking to save some calories for dessert? Try having your sandwich or burger wrapped in crunchy lettuce instead of using a bun. You can also skip the cheeseand save about 100 calories.Survive Snack-AttacksChips, dips and desserts can be hard to tackle when it comes to tailgating in a healthy way, because those treats can often lead to overeating. This year, fuel up before you hit the fields with veggies. Vegetables can help keep you feeling fuller longer and can replace chips for dipping into bean-based dips such as hummus. Need some recipe inspiration? Check out these top 20 healthy tailgating recipes.Exercise Break at HalftimeFootball games tend to include a lot of eating and sitting. Encourage guests to take a halftime walk or stretch outside to get some fresh air and get the blood pumping again. Also, never forget the importance of hydration throughout the day! Oftentimes, the body can confuse hunger with thirst, which can be a sign of dehydration.Do you have any healthy tailgating recipes? Share a picture or idea with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram!
