This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.
We aren’t huge football fans, but we do head to a game once or twice a year and we go to many parties during the season. So, I’m always trying to come up with ways to save some calories and not go overboard while tailgating and when we head to other people’s houses to watch the game. The big game for us was yesterday when Arizona State (mine and hubbyman’s alma matter) took on University of Arizona (our rivals and my sister’s alma matter). Oh, it’s a HUGE game for us!
Here are a few of my tailgating tips:
1. Eat something light before you head to the game. You never know what everyone will bring and this will keep you from binging on all those chips, cookies, and other things you’re trying to avoid.
2. Scope out all the food before digging in. Make a concious effort to pick foods that are good for you. Make the best choices you can!
3. Fill up on protein, fruit and veggies. Pick lean, grilled proteins and fresh fruit and veggies to fill up the majority of your plate.
4. Take a dish that you know is healthy. My vote is a couple bags of PopChips and a bowl of hummus! They are delicious and easy on the thighs! My favorite are the Sweet Potato PopChips and the new Nacho Cheese Tortilla chips. Both are full of mouth watering flavor…I want to know how they make a product without all the guilt and a lot of fat and unnatural ingredients.
Try this Roasted Garlic Hummus Recipe from The Village Cook…it looks amazing!
5. Drink plenty of water. Skip the soda and alcohol, but if you must make sure to drink a big glass of water between each soda or alcoholic beverage. Not only will it help keep you hydrated, it will help keep you from getting drunk, and limits the calories you consume!
6. Brink a pack of sugar-free gum. Chew a couple pieces to freshen your breath, clean your teeth, and keep you from grazing at the table of goodies.
7. Step away from the table! Grab a seat, when your plate is full and relax….it will keep you from mindlessly grazing. However, when you’re done, get up, take a walk and socialize with other tailgaters. Work off those calories.
Headed out to a game, I’ve got you covered with an awesome gift pack from Pop Chips Arizona, including a variety of PopChips, swag, and $50 gift card to shop for all your tailgating needs!
Disclaimer: PopChips Arizona provided me with an assortment of chips and is providing the giveaway! Tailgating tips, content, and opinions are my own. Images from Popchips, The Village Cook, FreeDigitalPhotos.net (marin and John Kasawa).
Thanks for the giveaway…we like Jalapeno ! Our tip: a designated driver for the trip home from Sun Devil Stadium, post-game !
Have a variety of fruit and vegetable options because everyone loves those!
Make sure there are lots of napkins!! I like the salt and vinegar
Cheddar would probably be my favorite.
When I make food for tailgating or game day, I always make a veggie tray and a fruit tray. My favorite chip flavor would have to be the Parmesan and garlic
My favorite tailgating tip is to partner up so you’re not stuck bringing too much on your own.
My favorite flavor PopChip is Jalepeno.
the sea salt and vinegar are my favorite.
sour cream and onion
My favorite flavor is parmesan garlic.
Sour Cream & Onion and we like snacking on fruits and veggies (:
i always cut up some fresh fruits and veggies and take them with us when we tailgate. they are easy to much on! i love the sour cream and onion pop chips!
Use lower calorie/fat items if possible when preparing your tailgating food and prepare as much as you can in advance. I would love to try the Parmesan and Garlic POPchips.
I’ve never had any popchips so I don’t have a favorite flavor, but I’d love to try them!!
I like the Barbecue Potato flavor. I cut up veggies and bring a low fat dip for tailgating.
I don’t think I have any tips that you haven’t mentioned, I’d most like to try sea salt and vinegar and also jalapeno
Veggie trays ALWAYS get eaten, I think it’s a relief to people along with all the greasy offerings. Sweet potato is my fave flavor.
I don’t really have any tailgating tips, but my favorite Popchips flavor is sea salt & vinegar.
Sour Cream & onion
Grill chicken instead of fatty meats like brats and beef. I also like the parmesan garlic.
My favorite flavor is the Sour Cream & onion.. would also make a relish tray of raw vegetables
Sea Salt and vinegar are my favorite.
For healthy snack you can’t beat celery and hummus
I love the Sour Cream and Onion flavor – veggie trays with dip are a good healthy thing for tailgating
annabella @ centurytel dot net
You can’t go wrong with a bag of apples or oranges!
I don’t really have any tips. I don’t do tailgating. I like the tips you gave though!
I would love to try the parmesan garlic.
If you pack healthy foods then you can’t help but eat healthy.
I like the plain ones with sea salt
vmkids3 at msn dot com
My tip is to prepare as much as you can ahead of time. My favorite flavor is barbecue
sour cream and onion.
You can make veggie kabbobs. My favorite are barbeque
For a healthier tailgating party, I skip the high calorie dips and spreads and make my own veggie-packed salsa and low-fat hummus.
My favorite flavor Popchip would have to be the Salt & Pepper – thanks!
bbq is my fav flavor
i like the cheddar flavor. I always take a veggie and low fat ranch tray. The ranch isn’t super healthy, but its better than alot of tail gating “junk” that is served.
My favorite is the Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips
I like sea salt and vinegar. You pretty much covered it all, but I like to make sure I eat before heading out so I’m not liable to grab and eat everything.
wolverina401 at gmail dot com
I’d like to try the salsa tortilla chips.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
I’m boring. I’d like Original.
bring veggies, like the Sour Cream & onion
Sweet Potato!!! 🙂
Oh the sour cream and onion sounds really good to me! As for a healthy tailgating tip…hmm….I think you have alot of it covered 🙂 We do like to put different snacks in little baggies…..so we each get one…and we know whats in their and how much…rather than just grabbing in the bags. Using the individual baggies we do not eat as much!
I would like the cheddar flavor.
Sour cream & onion
I bring the chili, like the Barbecue Potato
I like the sour cream and onion and my favorite tip for is bring sliced veggies and fruits for healthy and quick snacks.
Cheddar flavor.
We bring fresh fruit and veggies for snacks
I like the Ranch Flavor Chips.
I like to drink a couple of extra glasses of water before partying – calms down my appetite.
And I like the Ranch flavor – thank you!
Love to try the BBQ flavor popchips. We like veggies and dip!
The nacho Cheese TortillaCHips look yummy
Cheddar! I love bring veggies to tailgate.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I like the sour cream & onion flavor 🙂 When we tailgate we always bring a football & burn off some calories with our own little game before the big game! Great way to meet other tailgaters too!
I like the Barbecue Potato flavor. Cut up veggies with a no fat greek yogurt dip is always a good choice for snacking or tailgaiting.
I think the last one is key…and the one I have the toughest time abiding by!
Cheddar! I love bringing healthy greek yogurt dip and veggies to tailgating!
sour cream & onion
very nice!
My favorite flavor is the Sour Cream & onion. We also like to make some fresh veggies, like celery and carrots sticks and a healthy dip. Also we make little turkey wraps using lean turkey & lettuce.
I like to make something to bring so I know it’s healthy and I like the Original popchips.
cool
Thanks for the contest!! HAPPY HOLIDAY’S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!