Insider’s Viewpoint: Tailgate Time

Football season is here, which means that tailgating is about to be brought to full speed. This week, we are going to talk about some tailgate foods that are surprisingly healthy and taste great.

It’s not a secret that many tailgate foods can add on some unwanted calories. Before the guilt sets in for just thinking about indulging, you might be intrigued to learn which tailgate regulars are actually healthier than you might realize.

5 Healthy Tailgate Foods

Street Corn
Perfectly seasoned sweet corn straight off the grill is hard to beat. You’ll be glad to know that cooked corn is high in cancer-fighting antioxidants. It also promotes healthy vision. I like to add some feta cheese, cilantro, and spices for an extra flavorful side dish.

Baked Potato
Potatoes get a bad rap for being high in carbohydrates and calories. You might be surprised to find out that one medium sized potato has 0 grams of fat and only 160 calories. Potatoes have half of the vitamin C of an orange and more potassium than a banana! A baked potato bar is a fun way to let everyone personalize their plate and add a lot of vegetables to your pre-game meal. Good options include broccoli, bell peppers, and green onion. Adding beans increases the fiber content and some low-fat cheese adds calcium.

Guacamole
No tailgate is complete without this creamy dip. Avocado is a great source of healthy fats and biotin, which helps to keep your metabolism going. Try swapping tortilla chips for raw vegetables to increase your vitamin and mineral intake and to decrease calories and fat. (This tasty fruit is also great for your hair and skin!)

Chili
Chili is a common staple at tailgates especially when the temperatures begin to drop. Most chili recipes are packed with beans, and juicy diced tomatoes! One serving of Navy Beans provides an astounding 76% of your daily fiber needs. Fiber helps to lower cholesterol and reduces hunger by keeping you feeling full. Just replacing half of your meat with beans and veggies will significantly decrease the fat content of your favorite chili recipe.

Recipe

Street Corn
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 6 ears corn, unhusked
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1/4 cup feta Cheese
• 1/4 cup freshly chopped cilantro leaves
• Juice of 2 limes

Instructions

• Preheat grill to 350°F.
• Place corn, in its husks, directly on the oven rack. Roast until tender and cooked through, about 40-45 minutes.
• Peel down the husks.
• Serve immediately, sprinkled with chili powder, feta, cilantro and lime juice.