The crack of the bat and the roar of the crowd can only mean one thing: Opening day at Coors Field is upon us. It's that time again to head out to the park and watch your Colorado Rockies put the hurt on the out-of-towners. Play hooky and catch a day game or take the weekend and spend it in Lodo. Either way, enjoy the season and all the finer points of it, ballpark concessions included. Nothing, and we mean nothing, tastes better than a hot dog at a game. Savor it, and follow these simple tips to eating healthy during your favorite summer outings.
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Ballpark
As if finding something healthy at baseball games weren’t hard enough, many parks are now offering all-you-can-eat seats, where the average person consumes a whopping 6,000 calories, according to Moore. These tickets, usually ranging from $30 to $55, allowing fans to gorge on everything from peanuts to hot dogs. While this may sound like a deal for your wallet, it’s no good for your waistline! Instead, indulge in just one treatment.
Tempted by:
Large Nachos with Cheese (4oz):
Cal: 1,101
Fat: 59g
Carbs: 131g
Chocolate Ice Cream Sundae (10oz)
Cal: 880
Fat: 42g
Carbs: 121g
Try these smarter options:
Hot Dog with bun (4oz)
Cal: 309
Fat: 14g
Carbs: 33g
Snow Cone with 3oz Syrup
Cal: 270
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 68g
Carnival
Fair-food vendors fry everything from Twinkies to artichokes. Skip the grease and avoid foods smothered in fattening sauces or cheeses. Choose from a variety of fruit options such as watermelon wedges and chocolate-dipped bananas.
Tempted by:
Cheese Fries (10oz)
Cal: 644
Fat: 38g
Carbs: 63g
Funnel Cake (8oz)
Cal: 760
Fat: 44g
Carbs: 80g
Try these smarter options:
Corn on the cob (16oz)
Cal: 201
Fat: 1g
Carbs: 42g
Carmel Apple (9oz)
Cal: 298
Fat: 1g
Carbs: 73g
Food Court
If sticky weather causes you to retreat to the air-conditioned mall, don’t fall victim to food-court pitfalls. Shopping works up an appetite, but beware of value meals and big serving sizes that cause you to eat more.
Tempted by:
Chicken Caesar Salad (20oz)
Cal: 800
Fat: 57g
Carbs: 32g
Malt Shake (16oz)
Cal: 690
Fat: 33g
Carbs: 85g
Try these smarter options:
Chicken Breast Sandwich (4oz)
Cal: 280
Fat: 9g
Carbs: 31g
Fruit Smoothie (16oz)
Cal: 290
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 72g
Movie Theater
Seeing a film on the big screen often leads to consuming massive portions of popcorn, candy, and soda. “If you’re going to get something, get the smallest size and split it with your date,” says Moore. You can treat yourself to a movie snack without derailing your diet!
Tempted by:
Large Popcorn, no butter added (160oz)
Cal: 1,283
Fat: 78g
Carbs: 125g
M&M’s (5oz)
Cal: 750
Fat: 32g
Carbs: 107g
Try these smarter options:
Soft Pretzel (4oz)
Cal: 386
Fat: 3g
Carbs: 79g
Gummi Bears (4oz)
Cal: 130
Fat: 0g
Carbs: 30g