Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Rooting for the home team doesn't have to mean running afoul of your diet

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Weight Loss Clinic - Expert Column

Reviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Take me out to the ball game ... and it's one, two, three strikes, your eating healthy plan is out! Or is it?

To me, baseball is synonymous with summer. My family goes to a handful of games each season -- it's tradition! I make sure we go to one of the fireworks games because they never disappoint; each year the fireworks show is more spectacular than the last.

So when we're at the ballpark, can we still score a run with our healthy eating goals?

Well, it's easier now than ever, as baseball stadiums around the country are offering healthier concession options ranging from vegetable soup to roasted turkey legs to sushi. It doesn't have to be all about hot dogs anymore!

I surveyed four well-known ballparks across the country to uncover some of the healthier items on their menus. I also asked what their most popular food items are, and if they had noticed any recent trends in fans' concession purchasing habits. Here's what I found out:

SBC Park (home of the San Francisco Giants)

Healthier options (some of these items are only served at the "club" level):

Portabella mushroom sandwich
Greek salad with light Greek vinaigrette (served in a flatbread)
Grilled summer vegetable skewers
Lemon garlic marinated skinless chicken breast (served with Bermuda onions on a cornmeal Kaiser bun)
Lower-fat hot dogs and veggie dogs
Granola and yogurt parfait (made with whole-milk organic yogurt, blended with vanilla and coconut and layered with granola and blackberry compote)
Fresh fruit (served in the Farmers Market section)

Safeco Field (home of the Seattle Mariners)

Healthier options: (some are sold in the "health hut" in Safeco Field)

Veggie dogs
Gardenburgers
Vegan soups
Caesar salad (there are a couple of reduced-fat dressings to choose from at the "club" level of the stadium)
Blackened salmon Caesar salad
Hummus platter