Happy Tailgating season, because let’s be real–how many of you ladies actually enjoy the food more than the game!? Tailgate food is definitely some of the best of the year, maybe coming in second place after Christmas dinner. Everyone should enjoy the big burgers, wings, beer, and cheese dip occasionally, but if you are eating those heavy comfort foods every Saturday, then that bikini body is saying goodbye! Collegiettes, you want to feel good on game day, not tired and heavy from overeating. You want to be energized the entire night –long enough for overtime and going out afterwards. Last year, HC gave you “Eat This, Not That: Game Day Edition,” giving you the best strategies for game day eating, and this year we want to give you the best recipes to actually use those rules. And a few more tips too!
Have your junk food, and make it wholesome too. I have been very inspired by clean eating and a book called Wholesome Junk Food for the past couple of years. Basically, everything you put into your mouth should have a purpose. That means replacing those refined breads and sweets that are high in calories with something more nutritious (and we promise it will still be delicious), because those breads and sweets are the things that keep you snacking all day long. Think about it: how many of those” bite-sized” croissant pinwheels can you eat? Like 500, right? And then sometimes you still aren’t full or satisfied! That’s because they are low in fiber and protein.
Try replacing bread with sweet potatoes slices. Think of a sandwich and fries in one! By replacing bread, you cut half the calories and more than double the nutrients (specifically vitamin A). For the recipe below, she uses Sweet Potato Waffle Fries on crock pot BBQ pork sliders. For bonus points, use Greek yogurt and honey in the coleslaw, instead of mayo and sugar.
Try replacing super sugar filled desserts with something protein based. When nuts are in dessert, you increase the amount of protein compared to a typical dessert, which means its way more filling. But don’t even think about a Reese’s peanut butter cup, because the amount of protein is negligible compared to the amount of sugar in Mr. Reese’s cup. That’s what’s great about homemade desserts –you can control the amount of sugar you eat (and as crazy as it sounds, when there is less sugar involved, the more rich, decadent, and bold the flavors are going to taste). For these crunch bars, there is no baking involved! Bonus points if you add crushed peanuts to the top of these babies.
[Click the picture for the recipe]
or if you are in need of something a little more hearty…try beer and bacon glazed pecans.
Chow Down in a Timely Manner. If you want to make it through the day without feeling tackled, you actually need to prepare the whole weekend just like an athlete on game day weekend. Eating healthy the day before the game is just helpful in preparing your body to endure a long day. Even though Friday is on the weekend, and that makes it tempting to splurge on junk, try to eat balanced meals if you are planning on staying out all day Saturday. On game day, eat a breakfast high in carbohydrates to keep yourself energized until time for tailgating. After too many games of beer pong and corn hole, make sure to eat a lunch full of carbohydrates and protein so your body can recover from the long day and prepare for a night of standing and cheering. Make sure to stay away from greasy and fattening foods, especially about an hour before going into the stadium, just keep your stomach settled during an exciting game. So cheese dips and pizza should be a no-go at this point. However, eat filling snacks before and after the game to keep yourself going! Chicken wings, bean dip, or a bowl of soup is a touch down!
Kick Cravings. Use fresh vegetables in a creative manner. Most “dippers” are chips, pretzels, or bread. They spike blood sugar, making your brain crave more and making you tired. Veggies turn the signal for cravings off, and the fiber from the vegetables also helps with blood sugar spikes. Try celery sticks, cucumbers, zucchini, and potatoes as “dippers”, on kabobs, and as wraps. Bonus points to anyone who is Southern enough to use okra –not fried!