Back door to wellness

We’re in football season and whether your team plays small players, the Friday night light cluster, or the NFL, offering good things to eat is a big part of the game. Game day snacks are often not the best fit for the wellness lifestyle. Now I’m not trying to get ahead of your soccer party, my goal is to share options that are just as tempting, but that will score a great goal if you play for better health. With some planning and a little creativity, you can turn your hatchback into a variety of good-for-you options.

The successful tailgater makes planning a priority. You should have on hand the essentials for safe food handling, hand washing, or sanitizing, and the equipment to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold. Also pack two sets of utensils to ensure you have separate utensils for handling cooked and raw foods. If you are lighting your grill, be sure to bring a metal bucket or heat resistant container to safely extinguish the embers. Include garbage bags and antibacterial wipes for cleaning. You should also bring a first aid kit; you can buy one or make one that contains plasters, Neosporin and alcohol wipes, sterile gauze pads, and insect repellent. This is a general list; You may also want to add items that are must-have for game day.

Now when planning your meal, take a look at your team colors – do team colors lend themselves to tinkering with what to add to the menu? For instance:

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Black, White, and Red: Blackened chicken fillets, fresh tomato sauce, and baked white tortilla chips
• Miami Dolphins, Green, White Orange: Kale Salad, Carrot Curls, Chopped Jicama, and Ranch Dressing
• Green Bay, Verde y Oro Packers: Low-Fat Spinach Dip, Zucchini and Summer Squash Slices, and Pita Triangles
• San Francisco 49ers, Red and Gold: Turkey Chili, Shredded Cheddar Cheese, and Plain Greek-Style Yogurt

If it’s difficult to match team colors to menu items, some of the regional foods can add up to a winning play.

• Buffalo Bills: Baked Chicken Wings, Low-Fat Blue Cheese Dressing, and Celery Sticks
• Chicago Bears – Turkey Sausage on Whole Wheat Buns with Toppings – i.e. Chopped onion, relish, mustard
• New Orleans Saints: Red Beans, Brown Rice, and Toasted Garlic Flavored Pita Triangles
• Dallas Cowboys: Lean Beef Brisket Tacos with Fresh Salsa

Drinks are important too. You want to make sure your group gets plenty of fluids and doesn’t get dehydrated. Wellness drinks include non-alcoholic cocktails, non-alcoholic beer, low-sugar fruit drinks, lemon or lime juice, vegetable juice, carbonated water, fruit water, or zero vitamin water. Any of these can be paired with healthy fan foods to complete the tailgate menu.

The game is the main event. Plan the day of arrival and prepare the food about two hours before the start. You don’t want to rush into the pre-game rituals, camaraderie, and bragging that is part of the tailgate experience. Once everyone in the team cart has eaten, make sure your area is clean and you’ve packed some easy-to-reach snacks and drinks for the post-game celebration.

Remove: When playing for good health, add healthy food options to your menu when entertaining.