Kickoff for the 2014 football season, whether it be high school, college or NFL, is among us. That means it’s time to fill up the cooler, load up the car, paint your face and hit the stadium parking lot for some serious tailgating.
Here are some tips so you don’t miss the game with trips to the emergency room, the bathroom or police station:
1) Unless you’re an offensive lineman, there’s no need to eat like one. Keep your tailgating fare light – opt for lean beef patties (93 percent lean or more) or ground turkey for more healthy burgers. Cut calories where you can so you can still fit into that stadium seat. Leave off the cheese from that burger to save 100 calories and 6 grams of fat. Go with lower calorie mustard only, rather than catsup. Or better yet, go with chicken and vegetable kabob skewers!
2) No matter what you grill, beware of food poisoning. Carefully pack raw meat in your cooler, preferably at the bottom to prevent drips onto other foods. Don’t use a cooler that’s too large – a smaller, tightly packed cooler will keep food colder longer. Make sure you cook food to suggested temperatures for safety – burgers and brats get 160 degrees, while chicken gets 170 degrees. Throw away any food that goes unrefrigerated for more than two hours.
3) Don’t be a drunken fan. Too much alcohol could lead to an invitation from stadium security to leave early. Drinking before the game could also lead to a diet hangover. Alcohol, itself, has plenty of calories and too much alcohol can also make you feel hungrier. Remember: moderation.
4) While we’re talking about alcohol, remember to designate a driver.
5) It’s not all about the food and drink. While you’re packing the car, remember to throw a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit in the trunk. Grills are great, but they also lead to accidents. Keep children and pets away from hot grills, and properly discard still-hot coals before heading into the game.
6) Also, lock up your valuables before heading to the stands. If you have to leave valuables in your car, hide them from plain sight, keep them in the trunk and keep doors locked and alarms on. There’s no worse feeling than coming out to a burgled car after the game.
7) Keep perspective. There’s bound to be traffic after the game, and flashes of road rage. Keep it cool. You’ll get home in time for Monday!
