Happy soccer season! Let the beer drinking, fancy writing and terrible food ensue!
It’s a joke.
Tailgating is often synonymous with delicious food and unlimited beer. But it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your body. Here’s how it’s done, ladies:
Invited to your friends tailgate place? Chances are, you won’t find anything but burgers, beer, and a bunch of processed junk on the food table. Add some pizzazz. Bring a plate or 2 of your own. Here are some ideas:
•Bring a tray of vegetables and homemade hummus. Make it extra colorful; Humans are attracted to colors.
•Take a vegan dip with you and then don’t tell anyone it’s vegan until it’s gone. Like this one called Healthy Queso Dip from The Detoxinista:
My favorite to dip into is Garden of Eatin’ Red Hot Blues
•Do yourself a favor and google: buffalo cauliflower bites. Thank me later.
•Or, make a batch of homemade salsa. Fresh tomatoes, lemon juice, onion, bell peppers, organic corn, and black beans…boom! Or guacamole – same ingredients but mash up a couple of avocados before adding the rest. And add some fresh cilantro!
•Bring a whole acorn squash. Yes, a whole pumpkin. Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, cut into rings, drizzle a little olive oil and honey, sprinkle a little sea salt and pepper and give it to the grill master. Boom. Delicious and nutritious fresh off the grill.
•Offer help. Tell your friend you’ll get the burgers or not worry about the chicken breasts…then it’ll be your responsibility to pick up the good stuff (grass-fed and grass-raised) from the grocery store or farmer’s market. A sigh of relief for your conscience.
•When in doubt, skip the buns. Okay, so you didn’t have time to prepare a dish to take to your friends’ back door. You’ve been feeling great and you don’t want your body to pay for what you eat. Do not panic! Assess the situation. Stick to things you recognize as real food; maybe salsa, chili, fruit, vegetable plate… you get the idea. Avoid things that come from a factory. Also known as hamburger and hot dog bun, French fries, Walmart potato salad, anything processed. It won’t be ideal, but WHO WANTS TO STRESS AT A BACK DOOR? Nobody. So don’t be a sour Sally and do the best you can.
Do you have your own tailgate? The power is in your hands, woman. Buy grass-fed beef and pasture-raised chicken. Flavor with lemon and garlic. Bring your crock pot for homemade chili. Make some easy coleslaw: shredded cabbage, baby carrots and onion, a little apple cider vinegar, a little agave nectar, a little mayonnaise, and salt and pepper. Don’t give your guests the option of eating processed foods. Once they’re hungry, they’ll try your delicious whole food recipes, then be healthy babies before we know it. 🙂
Skewers are your best friend. They are easy to put together, quick to cook, and super delicious. You can make chicken, steak, pork or vegetable skewers. You can alternate bell peppers, onions, squash, zucchini, tomatoes, potatoes, pineapple, you name it! Don’t forget to soak your wooden skewers for a few hours before cooking them. Which reminds me… you can also make fruit skewers! It’s as easy as it sounds and requires no cooking.
Your tailgate is shaping up to be quite fabulous. I can go?
Here’s another tip: bring your soccer backboards and corn hole. Keep him moving while you’re outside hours before game time. Get up and walk around, people watch, play catch…have fun!
Well, as for the beer…
It tastes great and there really is nothing better than beer with football. I say, have a pair. You can always bring a bottle of wine and decorate a glass with your team colors. Beer is not something we should drink on a daily basis. Trust me, it will go straight to your guts. But once again, I don’t want you to be miserable at your back door.
To sum up:
1.) Avoid prosecution. Go without bread. Eat real food.
2.) Keep it moving. Throw a soccer ball. Take a walk.
3.) A beer or two is fine. Drink plenty of water.
Happy tailgating and Go Giants!