Making your tailgate party delicious, fun and healthy

NEW YORK -- Tailgating season is officially upon us.

Registered dietician and award-winning author Pat Baird joined us with some easy recipes to keep it healthy, fun, but most importantly, delicious.

You can score points with your fellow fans with just a little bit of planning and creativity.

The key to a fun and a healthy tailgate party is to be adventurous with food choices.

Pack foods with more fiber, less salt, fat and sodium AND that taste delicious. No one will miss the calories one single bit.

Pat says when it comes to food, safety is essential, including handling and packing tailgating items without packing germs and bacteria.

Pat's tips:

Healthy Tailgating is NOT an Oxymoron:

* All foods fit in a healthy diet; that means balance, variety and moderation

* For some, football season is a dangerous time for nutrition and health if they forget and overeat

* The key is a little planning and making tradeoffs

* Any time food is packed an transported is a time for germs and bacteria to have their own party

* BUT a few quick tips prevents any of that

Safety First!!!

* Don't forget all the tips of summer safety: hot foods hot; cold foods cold

* Use insulated bags; freeze ice packs the night before

* Buy wide-mouth thermoses; soak with boiling water before filling

* Include moist towelettes and/or hand sanitizers for use before and after eating

Choose the Right Recipe:

* Make dips with FF Greek yogurt instead of sour cream - show Zippy Zucchini Dip here

* Make - or buy - others like salsa or black bean dip - that are lower in fat and add more fiber

* Serve with chips and veggies to get that tradeoff

* Grill your own franks; or bring homemade heroes to avoid high-fat/high cal stadium snacks

Save Room for Dessert:

* Bring along fruit kabobs; drizzle with chocolate syrup

* Use applesauce to make brownies or Bundt cakes

* Pack fresh fruit or order a fruit tray

For more information and tips on how to kick your tailgating party off in a healthy way, visit http://www.confidenthealth.org/