Football season has finally arrived. Get ready to snack, drink, and cheer on your team! Tailgates and football parties typically include a lot of beer and a lot of snacks… and why shouldn’t it! However, there are many ways you can make your football snacks a bit healthier. Keep reading for a few tips and tricks to make football Sunday’s more nutrient friendly!
Drinking
Thousands of people drink during Sunday Night Football and the calories can sneak up on you. Healthier alternatives include:
- Drinking light/low carb beer.
- If you’re drinking cocktails, try to make the ingredients sugar free to steer clear of added sugars.
- If you don’t drink alcohol, try sticking with diet sodas or even just water!
Snacking
Buffalo chicken dip is a very popular snack during the season. Ways to make it healthier include:
- Using fat free or light ingredients instead of the regular options (ex. Using light ranch instead of buttermilk ranch)
- Using whole wheat chips to dip instead of original
- Use vegetables to dip in place of chips
Burgers and hotdogs are another popular football tailgate food. You can make them slightly healthier by:
- Making sure the beef patties are lean (aim for 90% lean or more)
- Make turkey burgers and hot dogs
Making these small and subtle changes can make a huge difference. By adding a little more thought into prepping for football Sunday, you can worry less about added calories throughout game day!
Written by GUADS staff member Emily
Beginners Guide to College Fitness