Have you ever thought about it – the football tailgate party BBQ’s, hot dogs and sodas/beers at the hockey and baseball games, beers and wings at the bar while watching your favorite team play on the big screens. Stuffing ourselves silly while we watch some of the most fit and healthy human beings on our planet, we indulge in most likely some of the worst foods nutrition-wise available. Why is that?
I’m not trying to put a damper on or black cloud over the festivities. But some of the biggest sports buffs I know personally would have a hard time playing 5 minutes of flag football before they had to lay down and take a rest. Its an absolute oxymoron – as we watch the best of the best athletes in the word on the battlefield, we are losing the game of healthy eating off of it. For many, going to a sports event is a treat – not something they get to do every often, so like going to the movies, we treat ourselves to some food that we do not have on a regular, daily basis. I’m all good with that. What I am talking about right now are the fans with season tickets, the fans who watch the kick off every single Sunday and who never miss the opening faceoff of their favorite team at the local bar. This is whom I’m concerned about.
If your diet is all about eating healthy and consuming only the most nutritious foods available, then it doesn’t matter the event, entertainment or situation, you will choose only the best for your body. But for those who are not so disciplined, not so interested in what they indulge in as long as it tastes good and satisfies their cravings, its open game for snack food, junk food and concession stand food.
But hold up, wait one minute, things are about to change.
With the obvious rise in overweight people, obesity and ill health – MANY arenas, stadiums and entertainment venues are turning a new, health conscious leaf. Some have already joined the revolution. Here are some interesting findings I discovered while researching online:Previously, health-conscious baseball fans either had to bring snacks with them or satisfy themselves with basic ballpark fare. Today, many stadium food-service providers, such as Aramark, offer healthier options. For instance, at Atlanta’s Turner Field, you can buy freshly made salads; at Anaheim’s Angel Stadium there’s corn on the cob; at Baltimore’s Oriole Park at Camden Yards, you can find frozen yogurt and fruit smoothies; and at Boston’s Fenway Park, enjoy a fresh fruit salad. There are even veggie hot dogs and burgers at Oakland’s McAfee Coliseum and baked potatoes at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park at North Shore. (Source: www.ballparkfoods.com)
We’ve only just begun, barely even scratching the surface of what will become the norm. I have heard early rumors that many NHL teams are literally setting up entire concession stands in their arenas, offering a wide variety of nutritious foods to satisfy everyone from the obsessed health nut to the beer and burgers die hard. Now more of us will be able to eat like the pro’s actually eat and not just dream of playing like they so remarkably play.
