Happy football season! Let the beer-drinking, fantasy-drafting and terrible eating ensue!
Just kidding.
Tailgating usually is synonymous with delicious food and all-you-can-drink beer. But it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your bod. Here’s how its done, ladies:
Invited to your friends tailgate spot? Chances are, you’ll find nothing but burgers, beer and a but load of processed crap on the food table. Add some pizzaz. Bring a dish or 2 of your own. Here’s some ideas:
•Bring a tray of veggies and homemade hummus. Make it extra colorful; we humans are drawn towards colors.
•Bring along a vegan dip and then don’t tell anyone its vegan until it runs out. Like this one called Healthy Queso Dip from The Detoxinista:
My favorite for dippin’ is Garden of Eatin’ Red Hot Blues
•Do yourself a favor and Google: buffalo cauliflower bites. Thank me later.
•Or, whip up a batch of homemade salsa. Fresh tomatoes, lime juice, onion, peppers, organic corn and black beans… boom! OR guacamole–Same ingredients but smash up a couple avocados before stirring in the rest. And add some fresh cilantro!
•Bring an entire acorn squash. Yes, an entire squash. Chop it in half, scoop out the seeds, slice it into rings, drizzle some olive oil and honey, sprinkle a little sea salt and pepper and hand it to the grill master. Boom. Deliciousness and nutritiousness hot off the grill.
•Offer to help. Tell your friend you’ll grab the burgers or not to worry about the chicken breasts… then it will be your responsibility to pick up the good stuff (grass-fed and pasture-raised) from the grocery store or farmers market. A sigh of relief for your conscious.
•When in doubt, skip the buns. OK, so you had no time to prepare a dish to bring to your friends tailgate. You’ve been feeling great and you don’t want your body to pay for what you eat. Don’t freak! Asses the situation. Stick to the stuff that you recognize as actual food; maybe salsa, chili, fruit, vegetable plate… you get the idea. Avoid the stuff that came from a factory. AKA hamburger and hot dog buns, potato chips, Walmart potato salad, anything processed. It won’t be ideal but WHO WANTS TO STRESS AT A TAILGATE?! No one. So don’t be a sour Sally and just do the best you can.
Having your own tailgate? The power is in your hands, woman. Purchase grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken. Flavor with lemon and garlic. Bring your crock pot along for homemade chili. Whip up some easy-peasy coleslaw: Chopped cabbage, baby carrots and onion, a little apple cider vinegar, a little agave nectar, a little mayo and salt & pepper. Don’t give your guests the choice of eating processed foods. Once they’re hungry they’ll try your delicious whole-food recipes, then they’ll be wellness babes before we know it. 🙂
Kabobs are your best friend. They are easy to put together, quick to cook, and so super delicious. You can do chicken, steak, pork or veggie kabobs. You can alternate peppers, onions, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple, you name it! Don’t forget to soak your wooden skewers for a few hours before cooking. Which reminds me… you can also make fruit kabobs! Its as easy as it sounds and doesn’t require any cooking.
Your tailgate is shaping up to be pretty fabulous. Can I come?
Here’s another tip: Bring along your football and corn hole boards. Keep it moving while you’re out there hours before game time. Get up and walk around, people-watch, play catch… have fun!
OK, as for the beer…
It tastes great and there really is nothing better than beer with football. I say, have a couple. You can always bring a bottle of wine and decorate a glass with your team colors. Beer is not something we should be drinking on a daily basis. Believe me, it will go straight to your gut. But once again, I don’t want you to be miserable at your tailgate.
To summarize:
1.) Avoid processed. Go bun-less. Eat real food.
2.) Keep it movin’. Toss a football. Walk around.
3.) A brew or two is OK. Drink plenty of water.
Happy tailgating and Go Giants!