Keep It Healthy

Fall weekends are usually filled with food, fun, and festivities, not to mention Pirate Football! And we all know football wouldn’t be football without pre-game tailgating.  Tailgating usually means high calorie, high fat foods and alcoholic beverages.  But rest assure, you can still have a great time at a tailgate party without fumbling your diet. 

Tailgating tips to keep in mind…

• Have a small snack before going to a tailgate party. Going to a party hungry often results in overeating.
• Use a plate for even the smallest of snacks. You’ll eat less.
• Moderate your alcohol intake. Alcohol will cause your blood sugar to drop, which leads to hunger.

Healthy picks for tailgating…

• Fresh vegetables with low-fat dip.
• Pretzels with mustard dip.
• Baked tortilla chips and salsa.
• Baked pita chips with hummus.
• A variety of sandwiches made with lean meats such as turkey and skinless, boneless chicken breasts.
• Three bean chili served with low-fat cheese and whole-grain bread.

Keep It Safe

Fans everywhere are cooking and eating outdoors more now than ever before and it has become easy to forget many simple rules that provide for a safer grilling experience.  As the fun and flavors heat up, so does the risk of foodborne illness. When cooking outside always remember to follow proper food safety practices, whether you’re cooking burgers for two or barbecuing for a large group of hungry Pirate fans. Before firing up the grill at your next pre-game tailgating event, keep in mind that fun and safe grilling depend on your personal grilling style and proper food safety. 

Grill smart…

• Start your meal off right by thawing meats properly in a refrigerator set below 40 degrees F or in a microwave on the defrost setting.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure that food is thoroughly cooked to ensure both taste and safety.  Hamburger should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F; chicken breasts 170 degrees F.
• Beat barbecue bacteria by marinating meat in the refrigerator, never on the counter or outside by the grill.
• Keep clean by washing cutting boards and utensils in hot, soapy water between uses.  Or use color coded sets to keep raw meats and ready-to-eat foods separate.  And always remember to wash your hands.
• Remember the “two-hour rule” and make sure perishable food do not sit out of refrigeration for more than two hours (one hour in temperatures of 90 degrees F or higher).