Hot dogs, burgers, and garlic fries – these were the treats that lured me to stadium seats when I was younger. I longed for the glutinous, processed, and salty flavors of ballpark fare and as such, I happily accompanied my father to any game that was accompanied by ketchup and squirt bottle of nacho “cheese.”
My affair with these lip-smacking snacks, however, did not last forever. When my kidneys quit seven years ago, so did my fast-food addiction. But my love for a sports outing on a sunny (or recently, foggy) day? That remained strong.
It was easy for me to steer clear of tacos with bells and jacks in boxes, but eating at a game became a bit of a low sodium conundrum. If you are on a low sodium diet, how do you go out to a ballgame and how do you join the crowd?
Well first, forget about buying some peanuts and cracker jacks, and bring yourself some low sodium snacks. Trust me, you’ll never want to go back.
Case and point, the preseason 49ers game.
As we knew a meal of beer and lemonade would leave me hungry, and would result in a seriously lackluster fan, the crew and I decided to get to the parking lot a few hours earlier and tailgate – a great solution to staying full at the stadium when on a low sodium diet.
I found out what the other folks would be eating – chicken wings – and made a salt-free version for myself. I also brought a bean dip for everyone to enjoy (and to give my taste buds some diversity). And to top it all off, we devoured a bag of fresh cherries. Everyone left happy.
But let’s say you don’t have time for or interest in setting up shop behind the hood of your car; what do you do then? Don’t be afraid to pack a snack pack. Sandwiches, with low sodium bread and low sodium roast beef, are great. But don’t just settle for simple. You can bring anything that fits into a plastic container and in your purse or man bag. I’ve brought more complicated dishes like pasta, hummus, home-made sushi, and of course, more wangs!
The beauty of bringing your own low sodium food to a sports game is that you aren’t beholden to the slim offerings. You can bring whatever floats your fancy and will keep you cheering through the fourth quarter, or that shoot-out, or that nail-biting 12th inning.
So root, root, root for a snack pack. If you don’t eat it’s a shame. It’s just one, two, three bites and you’re full at the old ballgame.
Chow on.
nice tailgate and vintage tee 🙂