Tailgating is a weekend American tradition that involves cars, food and a major sporting event. Many of the food options at a tailgating party are high in calories and fat, and may not be the healthiest options when trying to manage your weight. But with some minor adjustments, you can offer healthier tailgating foods that can won't wreck your diet.
Chips and Salsa
While nachos may be a favorite tailgating party food, you can save a lot of calories and fat by omitting the cheese and using baked tortilla chips instead of the traditional fried chips. A 1-oz. serving of baked tortilla chips with tomato salsa contains about 140 calories and 2 g of fat. You can also make low-fat nachos using your baked tortilla chips, low-fat cheese and diced jalapeno peppers.
Vegetables and Dip
Another healthy tailgate food option includes a platter of vegetables and dip. Any vegetable will work, such as carrots, celery, grape tomatoes, red and green peppers, broccoli florets and cauliflower. Use different types of low-fat dips such as hummus, low-fat ranch dressing or a low-fat cream cheese dip, made by mixing low-fat cream cheese with low-fat milk and fresh dill. A 1 cup serving of vegetables with about 2 tbsp. of your low-calorie dip contains about 65 to 75 calories and 2 g of fat.
Chicken Wings and Kebabs
Make healthier buffalo wings using white meat chicken tenders marinated in buttermilk and hot sauce then coated in whole wheat bread crumbs seasoned with cayenne pepper and baked in the oven. A 1 oz. serving contains about 90 calories and 2 g of fat. If you are grilling at the game, make healthy chicken teriyaki skewers out the white meat chicken tenders, for about 55 calories per 1 oz. serving.
Sub Sandwich
A healthy sub sandwich at a tailgate can fill you up without all the calories. To lighten up your sub sandwich use lean deli turkey meat or roast beef, and instead of mayonnaise use mustard. Add fiber with a whole grain sub roll instead of the refined white flour roll. A sub sandwich consisting of 2 oz. of bread, 3 oz. of lean deli meat, mustard, lettuce and tomato contains about 320 calories and 3 g of fat.
Fruit Kebobs
Instead of cakes and cookies, sweeten your tailgating meal with fruit kebabs. Fruit kebabs are easy to eat, low in calories and fat free. Use any of your favorite fruits such as strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe, pineapple, apples and bananas. A 1 cup serving of fruit contains 120 calories and 0 g of fat.
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