How to Eat Healthy at NHL Hockey Games

Eating out can challenge the willpower of the most dedicated dieter and live sporting events are no exception. An NHL hockey game offers all the excitement of a live hockey game but all the temptation of being surrounded by food. There are ways to maintain healthy eating habits and still enjoy a live hockey game.

Instructions

    • 1

      Eat before the game to lessen the temptation to snack during the game. Choose a light meal that will fill you up but that won't leave you feeling sluggish or tired so that you can enjoy the action of the game without feeling hungry or tempted to eat foods that are bad for you.

    • 2

      Know your options. All National Hockey League teams have home pages online with links to their arenas and many of them list the various concessions, entertainment options and food choices that are available during home games. Take the time to find out what sort of foods are offered at a hockey game so that you know what foods will tempt you and what foods you should avoid.

    • 3

      Seek out healthy options. In an effort to better serve their health-conscious fans, many NHL arenas have now begun offering healthy food choices like fresh wraps, sandwiches and even salads. These healthier options are still outweighed by the more popular cheeseburgers and nachos, however, so you need to seek them out. Take a walk around the arena during an intermission to look for healthier foods or ask an usher or attendant where you can find some of these items.

    • 4

      Skip the alcohol. Beer and alcoholic beverages are plentiful at sporting arenas but they're also loaded with empty calories and offer little or no nutritional value. If possible, avoid drinking alcohol completely while at a hockey game and choose something healthier such as water. If you decide to drink at a game, limit your intake and do so only after you have secured yourself a designated driver to make sure you get home safely.

    • 5

      Take a walk. If you decide to indulge while attending a hockey game and give in to that craving for nachos with cheese and extra jalapenos, the intermissions between periods are a great time to burn off some of those extra calories. Limit yourself to one "forbidden" food per game and walk around the arena a few times during game intermissions to help yourself stay healthy and fit in spite of your minor indulgences.