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What Healthy People Eat at Ballparks and Other Tricky Venues

They let us in on their secrets to finding nutritious foods in places where you may think it's just not possible.
Lynn Andriani
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At the Ballpark 

It’s no surprise nutritional experts skip the footlongs and nachos. Stella Metsovas, a certified clinical nutritionist and the author of Wild Mediterranean, keeps one key thing in mind when she’s looking for something to munch on during games: She looks for foods that are made with just one ingredient, such as unsalted peanuts or popcorn without butter (the nuts are better, since you have to shell them, making them harder to mindlessly eat by the handful). For a full meal, Lisa Lillien, author of the new book, Hungry Girl Clean & Hungry OBSESSED!, says she tries to find a grilled-chicken salad—or, if that’s not possible, she’ll order a chicken sandwich and ditch the bun, going straight for the protein.

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At the Airport

If you’re not at America’s healthiest airport, you can still have a nutritional meal—it may just take a little more effort. Follow the advice of Nom Nom Paleo blogger Michelle Tam, whose new cookbook is called Ready or Not!, and check Yelp or another crowd-sourced reviews app before you go, so you’ll know if there are restaurants or kiosks in the terminal you’re headed to that other health-conscious travelers love. If all else fails, Metsovas says try a coffee shop like Starbucks; she has found their refrigerated-food sections stocked with healthy salads, fruit and cheese plates (sometimes with hard-boiled eggs) and wraps filled with spinach and egg whites.

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At a Highway Rest Stop

Even if you’ve packed a cooler with good-for-you snacks, you’re probably going to have to pull off the road at some point to use the restroom and fill up on gas. If the munchies strike while Lillien’s at a rest stop, her first thought is to find a sub/sandwich shop, so she can create her own salad with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and rotisserie chicken. If there’s only a convenience store, she buys jerky, fresh whole fruit (not fruit salad, since it sometimes includes fruit that’s a few days old) or a 100-calorie pack of nuts. Metsovas likes to pick up a Greek yogurt from the refrigerated section, or a high-protein granola bar.

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At a Fast Food Drive-Thru

As a mom of two, Kristin Kirkpatrick, RD/LD, a wellness manager for the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute, has definitely dealt with cries of “I’m starving and need to eat right now!” while cruising down the highway. If her family’s only option is a burger-fries type chain, she has two strategies for keeping her meal healthy. Her first plan is to only look at portion size, which rules out deluxe burgers with multiple patties and other 1,500- to 1,800-calorie items, and opt for something small—she’ll even order a kids’ meal for herself (a kids’ hamburger, fries, apple slices and lowfat milk clocks in at 480 calories). Her second approach is to rethink the menu. If all-day breakfast is served, Kirkpatrick will get oatmeal with fresh fruit, even if it is 5 p.m. Or, at a Mexican joint, she’ll ask for just one soft taco instead of defaulting to the three that the menu offers as a bundle.

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Before You Go

Best Late-Night Snack Foods
Banana Ice Cream(01 of08)
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Ice cream cravings are bound to happen some nights. Instead of reaching for the pint, opt instead for an easy-to-make banana ice cream. There's no dairy involved -- just frozen bananas. Not only only is it a healthy choice, but you can flavor it with whatever you're craving. Check out these recipes for some ideas to get you started. (credit:Healthy Happy Life)
Popcorn With Nutritional Yeast(02 of08)
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If you're craving something salty, consider popcorn. Pop your own kernels on the stove -- yes, it's easier than you think -- then top it with a little bit of salt and a lot of nutritional yeast. The nutritional yeast's natural cheese-y flavor will make this healthy snack wholly satisfying. (credit:spafra via Getty Images)
Energy Balls(03 of08)
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When you’re really craving something sweet, reaching for an energy bite or two is a good alternative to candy. Energy balls, if you don’t know, are delightful, healthy versions of truffles that you can easily make at home. You should always have a batch stocked in your fridge ― they come in handy for a quick snack or late-night snack. Check out these energy ball recipes. (And don't let the name fool you, these won't keep you up. There's no caffeine in these -- just dried fruit, nuts and sometimes chocolate.) (credit:The Healthy Maven)
Kale Chips(04 of08)
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If you’re craving something savory to munch on, reach for the kale. When baked into chips, kale can satisfy your need for something salty without too many calories. You can even make your own at home, which we recommend because it’s so easy and they taste way better than the store-bought kind. (credit:bhofack2 via Getty Images)
Pistachios(05 of08)
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High in protein and good fat, nuts are a good snack option late night -- or any time of day really. The problem with nuts is that it's easy to eat too many. The reason pistachios are such a good snack is that they're tucked away in a shell, so they take longer to eat and you're less likely to overeat. For those hard-to-open shells, use half of an empty pistachio shell to leverage your way in. It works every time. (credit:101cats via Getty Images)
Dark Chocolate Covered Grapes(06 of08)
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When you really feel like you need some chocolate in your life, make these dark chocolate covered grapes. Not only are they made with dark chocolate, which you should be eating a little bit every day anyway, but they also have a healthy fruit interior. Get the recipe. (credit:Molly Yeh)
Frozen Blueberries(07 of08)
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Don't need the chocolate? Straight up frozen blueberries are an addictive snack. They're a slightly better choice than fresh blueberries because they take a little longer to eat. So you're less likely to accidentally eat two cups in one sitting. If you're smart, you can freeze your own when there are sales and stock up. Here's how you do that. (credit:laughingmango via Getty Images)
Avocado Toast(08 of08)
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You know you want it. If you're actually feeling hungry, and not just looking for something to snack on, consider a piece of avocado toast. This more-substantial snack, with its high fat content, will help fill you up and keep you full until morning. There are a lot of ways to make avocado toast, so you'll never get bored of it. Check out our favorite avocado toast recipes. (credit:Dolly And Oatmeal)
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