For many men, the most wonderful time of the year is back: football season. Instead of being the last day before another dreaded Monday, every Sunday is now a day of celebration, typically marked by friends, beer and food. And while tailgating and hanging out with friends is undoubtedly enjoyable, some of the food that gets served up at these informal gatherings can be quite bad for your overall health.
But the mere presence of unhealthy food shouldn’t ruin the experience for you. You can always drink a whey protein shake before tailgating, ensuring that you’re full and won’t over eat. Another option is to simply make better eating decisions. There are many tailgate foods you can enjoy guilt-free, though there are also some that should definitely be avoided to ensure your diet stays on track. Here’s a short list of foods you should definitely steer clear of:
Chili Cheese Dogs
Hot dogs are quite calorie-dense due to the fact that they are high in fat — much of it saturated fat — and adding cheese and chili to the hot dog only increases the amount of calories and fat in this food. Unfortunately, when all of these fatty, calorie-dense foods are layered on top of one another, you don’t feel as though you’re eating much and will likely reach for a side. Worse, you might reach for yet another chili cheese dog, which can definitely be detrimental to your diet. If you must get a hot dog, get it plain or stick to the usual condiments.
Deep Fried Chicken Wings
Chicken wings can often be deceptive, as chicken is typically permissible when dieting. Unfortunately, deep fried chicken wings can actually be among the worst kind of food you can eat. Chicken wings are much different from chicken breasts – the leanest part of the chicken – because they contain much fattier meat and are also completely wrapped in fatty skin. In addition, chicken wings that are deep fried are even more calorie-dense and high in carbohydrates and fat due to the frying process. Deep fried chicken wings can also be dangerous because they are typically eaten in large quantities, rather than in moderation.
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Cheesy, Rich Dips
From loaded baked potato dips to pizza dips to cheesy crab dips, there is no shortage of rich dips loaded with large doses of carbohydrates and fats and little protein or fiber, two nutrients that can actually help you feel full and slim down. Perhaps the most vexing factors concerning dips for dieters is that small portions tend to be very calorie-dense, as they are really intended to only be a complement to another food. The other problem is that to have more of the dip, you have to eat it on something, like a chip, adding to your total calorie and fat count.
