When I think of summer sports games, heading out on a nice
warm evening to Citified to watch the Mets play or going to Yankee Stadium to
watch A Rod play, I am excited to be a part of the excitement. There is magic
at the ballpark that is contagious and unique to the sport.
But, aside from hotdogs, peanuts, cotton candy and beer, and
diet coke, what will I eat or drink for 9+ innings!?!
Do the extra innings mean extra pounds? Or can we enjoy the
game and not foul out with unhealthy food?
Recently, with obesity rising, the good news is that even
stadium fare has become more health conscious!
I am not going to tell you to bring your own bag of carrots
and celery (although bringing your own food is always an option), and half the
fun of being at the ballpark is the food you eat while enjoying the game. But,
there are healthier options you can choose!
For example, now on many of the menus, grilled veggie
sandwiches, sushi, grilled chicken salad and fresh fruit cups are on the list.
When having a sandwich (including a juicy hamburger), load
up on fresh tomatoes and lettuce and mustard. Hold the mayo! Choosing between a
hamburger and a chicken sandwich? The grilled chicken sandwich is the healthier
option. If there is a turkey burger, that’s even better. But again, be aware
that the condiments pack on the calories, so either chose the light dressings
or plain ol mustard and some ketchup!
What about fried chicken tenders or a wrap? Hands down a chicken,
turkey, ham or veggie wrap!
And, who doesn’t eat a hotdog at the game? Did you know that
most sold-out stadiums sell as many as 16,000 hot dogs a day! A regular dog
with mustard is your best bet. But, be aware of the foot long hotdogs as they
double the calories.
And, what about the nachos and cheese? They have more
calories and fat than you want to know! Stay away! You are better off eating
french fries! If you are at a stadium that sells corn on the cobb, go for that
(but without the butter)!
And, at many stadiums, salads are now being served with
low-fat dressings, so that’s a healthy option!
If you are a huge fan of pizza at the ballpark, then opt for
the traditional cheese rather than pepperoni or sausage!
What about the candy and snacks? Well, cotton candy is just
plain ol sugar that’s heated, colored, and spun into threads with added air.
While it’s not a lot of calories, it won’t get you too far in the nutrition
department! At least the cracker jacks have some protein and fiber! And don’t
forget about the peanuts! While the calories and fat add up (the bag is huge!),
they are full of magnesium, vitamin E, niacin, folate and heart healthy fats!
Popcorn is good too, except only if it’s plain. Soft pretzels are fine, except
the size is huge and so if you can only eat a quarter of the pretzel, you’ll be
hitting a home run! Speaking of home runs, the all time winner for your sweet
treat is the fruit cup!
So, be mindful of what you are eating while you are enjoying
your day or nite at the game!
