Game Plan for a Healthier Tailgate

Hosting a healthier tailgate doesn’t require sacrificing flavor or fun. There are various ways to make better-for-you versions of your indulgent football faves. Kick off football season with a winning game-day spread that all your fans can enjoy using these simple tips and recipe ideas.

Score Big with Smart Swaps
Mayonnaise or Sour Cream -> Yogurt: Plain Greek yogurt contains tons of protein and digestion-friendly probiotics. Use yogurt in place of mayonnaise or sour cream in dips and dressings.

Ground Beef -> Ground Turkey: Whether you’re making burgers, sandwiches or meatballs, ground turkey is a heart-smart swap with less saturated fat.

Store-Bought Chips -> Homemade Tortilla Chips: Skip store-bought varieties and try your hand at homemade chips. They contain less sodium and are incredibly easy to assemble and bake using simple ingredients like tortillas, olive oil and desired seasonings.

Make Plant-Based Plays
A trendy way to make your spreads healthier is to trade traditional tailgate dishes for veg-centric versions. Add these plant-based plates to your starting lineup.

> Sweet Potato Nachos: Amplify the nutrition in your nachos using sweet potatoes as a hearty, delicious base. Top them with avocado, black beans and corn to elevate the nutrients, color and flavor of this tailgate classic. (See recipe on next page!)

> Pizza “Taquitos” with Tomato Dipping Sauce: Taquitos are flavorful, adaptable and the perfect plant-based platform. Fill tailgate taquitos with bell peppers, zucchini, spinach, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, and then dip in an Italian-inspired sauce. (See recipe on next page!)

> Baked Cauliflower “Wings”: Wings are a football season staple and cauliflower makes the perfect plant-based substitute. Plus, it offers a handful of beneficial vitamins and minerals. Bring cauliflower wings to life with buffalo or sweet chili sauce.

> Jalapeño Poppers: Easy to pick up and difficult to put down, jalapeño poppers are sure to spice up every quarter of the game. You can easily make this traditional app plant-based using non-dairy cheeses.