Tailgate Party Tips
This is not a drill! We are officially into FALL and also pretty deep into tailgate season. Whether you’re a college or professional football fan or if you just love a reason to tailgate and enjoy time with friends, these tips may be helpful for you as you look to enjoy your time and continue to nourish your body! Like anything else in life, maybe not all these tips serve you, pick and choose what may be useful to your life and experience.
1. Hydrate
Tailgating often comes along with consuming ETOH (alcohol) which leads to dehydration. Hydrate the day before and the day of your tailgate, especially if you’re in the heat, consider an electrolyte replacement. A few options include; coconut water, sports drinks (Gatorade, Powerade), electrolyte packets (Liquid IV, LMNT), or electrolyte waters (Propel).
2. Sleep
It’s not unheard of for tailgate mornings to start early before a noon or 1 p.m. kick-off or right when lots open. Get enough sleep to set yourself up for success and energy throughout the day. When we’re tired we need energy from somewhere, which often leads to either consuming extra caffeine and/or overeating. Caffeine is often an appetite suppressant, which leads me to my next point..
3. Nourish Yourself!
Don’t enter your tailgate day on an empty stomach, we all have that friend or have had an experience where you entered a day of fun on an empty stomach which can be a disaster waiting to happen. Consume a nutrient-dense breakfast (overnight oats with a hard-boiled egg, a smoothie, eggs, and toast with fruit, etc.) to avoid the hanger or effects of the alcohol later.
4. Move your body
Enjoy a walk around the tailgates or campus, and enjoy the fresh air and sights, personally, this helps me with digestion and just elevates the experience!
5. Enjoy yourself and choose a variety of foods
Days like this can bring up a lot of feelings for people around food, fear of eating, or thoughts about “junk.” Follow the same gentle nutrition rules - eat a variety of foods, listen to your body, and enjoy yourself. If you’re bringing food or contributing, consider options that will maintain your fullness (foods that include fat, protein, and fiber) and consider building a balanced tailgate plate. Enjoy that favorite dip and chicken wings with some veggies and fruit if that serves you!
Personally, tailgates, large gatherings, and Super Bowl parties used to cause me a great deal of anxiety around food choices and “falling off track.” These are tips that have helped ground me and helped provide perspective. Days and experiences are meant to be enjoyed, our health and nutrition are about the bigger picture, if you choose to eat nothing labeled as “health food” on a gameday, good for you, that’s your choice and savor that. Life is meant to be lived and celebrated.
I’ve included a few of my favorite tailgate foods that have been modified from recipes over the years below! (I don’t eat meat, but many of these can be modified to add meat if that serves you)
White Bean Buffalo Dip (a vegetarian’s buffalo, not chicken dip dream.. Also very fiber-packed!
Veggie Pizza Pinwheels I also love using these as a snack or weekday lunch!
Sundried Tomato and Basil Pinwheels these are a fan favorite among my friends and family for any holiday, gathering, or event!
Elevate your spring and summer BBQ menu with this delicious and satisfying Prosciutto Pasta Salad recipe. Packed with roasted red peppers, parmesan cheese, fresh veggies, and a tangy dressing, this easy-to-make dish is perfect for any occasion. Learn how to create this crowd-pleasing pasta salad with our step-by-step guide.
Colostrum, the "liquid gold" supplement, is trending, but is it worth the hype? Learn about the benefits and limitations of bovine colostrum for adults based on current research. Discover the truth behind the marketing claims and make an informed decision about this popular wellness trend.
What’s something that fad diets have that you won’t find here? Well, to be honest, there are many things (LOL) restriction, strict rules, avoiding foods, etc. but the answer in this case is food additions! Nutrition Addition, let’s talk about it!
The sleepy girl mocktail has been making its rounds around TikTok, claiming to help you sleep easier and improve sleep quality. Let’s take a look at the ingredients and see if the talk measures up to the science!
Whether you are going for a run, lifting weights, or an athlete getting ready for a game or race, fueling your body properly is extremely important.
It seems like social media is always looking for ways to tear down or call specific foods bad for you. For the last few years, there have been so many negative articles about seed oils and how “toxic they are”. But are seed oils ACTUALLY bad for you? Let’s talk about it!
Metrics from activity on the app, Strava, expect that up to 80% of people make a resolution and abandon it before the end of January. What if instead of forcing yourself into a box of changes that may or may not be attainable and suitable for your lifestyle, you provided yourself space to grow, breathe, and find ways to better uplift and love yourself?
Many disordered eating behaviors have become so normalized that you might not even realize you are struggling, read on for some common normalized eating behaviors and why they are not normal at all.
As a busy college student, energy bites are a major staple food for me! They come together quickly, freeze well, and are VERY customizable. Packed with fiber and vitamin A, these energy bites are a tasty, no-bake, holiday treat for the whole family.
Step aside, Keto, because there is a new diet in town and it is even crazier than the last! Introducing: The Carnivore Diet
Metabolic Adaptation: maybe you’ve heard about it or read about it online. What is it? And why does it matter? Read on to learn more!
Whether you’re a college or professional football fan or if you just love a reason to tailgate and enjoy time with friends, these 5 tips may be helpful for you as you look to enjoy your time and continue to nourish your body!
Nine in ten US citizens consume caffeine. If you ask any college student or young adult, you would know that this is absolutely true. However, when is it time to put the energy drinks and coffee down? Let’s discuss!
In mid-July, a WHO subgroup released a statement about aspartame and its relation to cancer risk. This has been a source of confusion and worry for many. Let's clear things up!
My Relentlessly Judgmental Eyes is a body image poem about the journey to body acceptance.
Certain fruits and veggies grow during certain times of the year, so each season comes with a new variety of produce. Here are three reasons you should eat in season!
If you are on social media, you know that cottage cheese has been recently trending in every recipe possible.
A theory about why weight loss is hard for some people has been making its rounds around the internet. This theory is called Set Point Theory.
Find the perfect workout for YOU with this post.
A list of 10 intuitive eating books that will help you develop a happy and healthy relationship with food and body.
With cookout season in full swing, salsa is making its yearly comeback as a delicious summer snack.
A list of 12 books that will help your child or teen develop a happy and healthy relationship with food and body.
Dietetics student Emma Sommers shares her health story, what it’s like having a feeding tube in college, and what she’s learned.
Despite what you may have heard, sodium isn’t scary and low sodium snacks don't have to suck!
Discover the #morningglowmocktail, a delicious and sleep-enhancing drink featuring tart cherry juice, a natural source of melatonin. Learn how to make this easy mocktail and improve your sleep quality during #bettersleepmonth. #sponsored by Tart Cherry Industry. #ustartcherries