I love bringing the boys to the occasional basketball or baseball game, but the food options aren’t so great.
Sure, I’ll occasionally go for the popcorn, dressed as minimally as possible (which is often vegan, despite the “butter” flavor, call ahead and ask). But I’d rather eat air-popped corn at home where it’s much healthier.
But there’s one snack that is ALMOST perfect.
Peanuts!
Sure, they’re salted, but roasted peanuts are the closest thing to a whole food, plant-based snack that you can find at most stadiums. And the kids LOVE them. (I usually check to see if any kids seated near us have a peanut allergy.)
They love the challenge of shelling the peanuts themselves, which keeps them extra entertained so we can enjoy more of the game, and it’s a special ball-park treat. It beats sneaking in my own snacks in violation of park rules, or worrying that the kids are feeling left out.
You can often find healthier options if you look
Discovering how much my kids love peanuts at sporting events made me realize how many healthy-enough choices there are in places I’d sort of given up at. Many coffee shops sell oatmeal with prepackaged toppings; add the fruit and nuts, skip the sugar. Many gas stations and convenience stores sell apples and bananas at the check-out counter.
Keep your eyes out for options, wherever you are 🙂