Tag Archives: baseball

Eat Like the Royals: 7 Ballpark Recipes Celebrating the Kansas City Royals’ World Series Run

Last night, my social channels bled blue as the Kansas City Royals clenched their first playoff bid since 1985. Chants of going all the way were deafening and will no doubt silence any time soon. It’s a moment these Midwest baseball fans have waited, in some cases, all their lives for. There are a lot of long games ahead for these fans, as many as seven if things go their way, which means a lot of tailgate-inspired eating is on the horizon.

How does one eat like a Royal? There’s no pinkies out around here like those other royals. This is both KC Missouri and Kansas — around here, it’s all about the meat!

Here’s how to eat like a Royals fan — we’ll even show you a few ways to trim down these ballgame faves so you don’t need to up-size your new champions T-shirt!

CLEAN CARAMEL CORN

clean caramel corn laurenslatestimage credit laurenslatest.com

No ballgame is complete without Cracker Jacks, but they’re kind of terrible for you. We love this recipe from LaurensLatest.com that uses coconut oil, maple syrup, sea salt, and vanilla to craft a treat as indulgent as the classic. Popcorn is naturally gluten-free, if that’s your thing. This recipe is also vegan and without adding processed sugars.

beef meatball kabobsimage credit Kacy Meinecke/DietsInReview.com

JALAPENO CHEDDAR BURGER BITE KABOBS

Grilling a batch of big, juicy burgers  these parts. But there are ways to teach these old dogs new tricks! Treat the burger as a side or appetizer with this tiny meatball kabobs. They’ve got big flavor, as we stuffed all-natural beef with jalapeno and cheddar cheese. (more…)

Teacher Chris Gomez Cut the Fat and Lost 140 Pounds

This summer, Chris Gomez is taking his students to Six Flags and the first thing he’s going to do is ride a roller coaster. In fact, the kids may have a hard time getting him to do anything else. For Chris, a special education teacher from New York, being able to fit in to a coaster car again means another triumph on his weight loss journey.

c gomez collage resize

At age 34, Chris admits to being slightly overweight most of his life with a few periods of weight loss in between, but due to emotional eating, late-night snacking and lack of portion control (eating multiple desserts), he could never keep the extra pounds off for very long. As a die-hard Mets fan and sports enthusiast, Chris knew as his weight continued to climb, his energy plummeted and his ability to participate in the activities he once enjoyed like softball, were beginning to decline.

Chris describes his a-ha weight loss moment, saying, “I was sitting at a friends’ house and ordered 20 chicken wings for lunch and half way through I realized that I couldn’t continue to do this to myself. One day a doctor would tell me that I was running myself into the ground and I would have nothing to do about it. So I decided enough was enough.”

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Pistachios are a Home Run at MLB Stadiums Along with Other Healthy Snacks

Summer is in full swing, meaning baseball stadiums around the country are packed with fans, especially this week at the All Star Game. It wouldn’t be an all-American baseball game without chowing down on some ballpark food, like stadium staples hot dogs, nachos, and peanuts. But what about those who want to enjoy a night at the old ball game without feeling bloated from the grease and sodium afterward?

Don’t fret my friends! Ballparks around the country are adding healthier choices to their menus! Some baseball stadiums added pistachios as an alternative to peanuts. Pistachios have more fiber and less saturated fat than peanuts, are a good source of vitamin B6 (15% DV), and you get almost 50 pieces for a single serving. That’s good stuff.

“There aren’t many healthy options at ballparks, so it’s exciting that consumers will be able to get in the game with pistachios this summer,” said Patricia Bannan, registered dietitian for Wonderful Pistachios. “Nutrient-packed pistachios have a lot to offer without sacrificing taste, so you can snack on them guilt-free as you enjoy watching your favorite teams.”

There is no doubt that the tasty healthy snacks are giving peanuts a run for their money. (more…)

Yoga Hits a Home Run With Baseball Players

Evan Longoria used yoga to rehab his left foot

Major League baseball players are coining the phrase “flexibility is the new strength” and adding yoga, stretching, and Pilates to their off season and spring training regimes. Baseball manager Joe Maddon said in 2024, when yoga was first introduced as an official part of the training program, that he expected yoga and stretching to soon be as mainstream as weight lifting for strength, and his assumption is now a reality.

The Devil Rays’ third basemen Evan Longoria is one player who first took yoga seriously as a way to find a little peace and contentment through the stressful baseball season. Needing to rehab his left foot, Longoria focused on functional movements and stability therapy, adding that doing yoga in a hot room for over an hour was no easy task, but also provided many benefits beyond peace of mind.

Many other baseball players have followed the lead of Longoria and used yoga or Pilates as part of their offseason training. Jimmy Rollins practiced yoga following an injury and went on to playing 142 more games after making a strong comeback. Jim Thome practiced both yoga and Pilates to better prepare his 41-year-old body for playing first base, and Alex Rodriquez, Tim Lincecum and Brian Wilson have also reportedly added more flexibility to their training.

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Is All-You-Can-Eat at the Ballpark Really a Good Value?

all you can eat at the ballpark Although Major League Baseball players need to be in top shape, their fans have a new reason not to be. Nineteen of 30 major league teams now have an “all-you-can-eat section,” where spectators can fill up on ballpark staples like peanuts, hot dogs, soda, lemonade, nachos and ice cream.

Although there is a salad bar at the buffet-style section at Baltimore’s Camden Yards, the message is not a healthy one. The $40 ticket may seem like a steal, but the real cost is paid in unhealthy calories. “Teams say the intention is not for fans to gorge themselves on the food, but many fans say it often comes with the culture of being at the ballpark,” writes Sports Illustrated. “Even as Orioles fan Michele Sparklin ate a salad and said she yearned for choices like a grilled chicken wrap, she admitted to overindulging in hot dogs — and food in general — while sitting in the section. ‘When there’s a hot dog in your face, you have to take it,’ she said.”

View Stadium Food Calories Slideshow

Read More:

Does a Healthy Hot Dog Really Exist?

How to Afford Eating Healthy in a Comfort Food Economy

Coors Field Introduces Gluten-Free Stand

Michelle Obama Recruits Baseball Players in Anti-Obesity Campaign [VIDEO]

Michelle Obama's Anti-Obesity CampaignThe first lady asked Major League Baseball players to join her in creating a new public service campaign against childhood obesity. The New York Times reports that the campaign will consist of 30 TV ads and 30 radio ads, each one customized to one of the league’s teams. Another version of the public service announcement features Curtis Granderson and is being distributed nationally. Yankee center fielder Granderson is the campaign’s national spokesman.

The new PSAs are part of Ms. Obama’s “Let’s Move” initiative. Each TV spot begins a message from the first lady: “There are so many fun things we all can do to be healthier, no matter who you are or where you are. So let’s move.” The following sequence is illustrated with footage of the local team. The ad should have local distribution by mid-August, and will also be appearing on the big screen in many ballparks.

Other sports leagues may soon also get involved with “Let’s Move,” but have yet to be scheduled.

Also Read:

Michelle Obama Launches Childhood Obesity Initiative with LetsMove.Gov

Michelle Obama and Elmo Discuss Healthy Habits

Coors Field Introduces Gluten-Free Concession Stand

coors fieldIt used to be that the only thing you could eat at the ballpark were hot dogs, caramel corn, peanuts and beer. But as service industries try in earnest to appeal to the health and eating patterns of the American culture, even the great American pastime is listening and acting.

Just this past week, Coors Field, home of the Colorado Rockies, joined forces with ARAMARK, the exclusive food and beverage provider, to create a gluten-free concession stand. Filled with items like hot dogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, chips, cookies, soda and even beer, each item is free of the allergy-provoking protein. Coors Field’s gluten-free stand is the first of its kind amongst all Major League Baseball stadiums. (more…)

Outdoor Fitness Games For That Family Get Together

basketballFamily outings and reunions are very popular this time of year and sometimes can be rather boring if you’re not at the lake or other hot spot. I love being outdoors and playing games with the family to waste away a nice relaxing weekend. But make sure to stay well hydrated during the day to avoid any serious injury.

Top Outdoor Family Games/Activities

1. Swimming- Hit that local pool with the family; nothing better than a nice dip on a hot summer day.

2. Playing Catch- Playing catch with a football/baseball is a good way to bond with one another.

3. Volleyball- Set up a small volleyball net in the yard and get a quick game going; fun for all.

3. Basketball- Shoot some hoops or have a nice game of “HORSE”.

4. Croquet- Great game for the entire group; make sure to look up the rules because it’s more fun if you know how to play.

5. Horseshoes- Put a couple rods down and have a good round of shoes; great partner game.

6. Washers- Kind of like horseshoes and challenging as well.

7. Frisbee- Fun, fun, fun; it’s all in the flick of the wrist.