How to Eat Healthier at Concession Stands

By : Jodie Shield | 0 Comments | On : July 22, 2016 | Category : Adults, Kids, Seniors, Teens

Part I: What My Family Ate On Our Summer Vacation

By: Jodie Shield, MED, RDN

When my kids were little, we loved cooling off on sweltering summer days at the swimming pool attached to our health club.  Call me crazy, or a registered dietitian nutritionist (I am guilty of both!), but I dreaded the concession stand – yes, the health club concession stand! Much to my dismay, all they sold were greasy burgers, hot dogs, fries, candy bars and soda. Of course my kids would beg for this junk food. I admit, every once in a while, I let them splurge. But we went almost every day. So, I packed up a cooler loaded with PBJs, pretzel sticks, grapes, and water bottles. My son, Michael, is now a lifeguard at that very same health club pool and ironically, still brings his lunch.  He reports that the concession stand does sell healthier items such as fruit cups and grilled chicken sandwiches on whole grain buns. But, he also observed that the healthy stuff is outrageously expensive compared to the hot dogs and fries and other junk foods they still sadly enough sell.

Wherever kids hang out – movie theaters, amusement parks, sporting events, beaches, or pools – you’ll find a concession stand selling everything from carrots to cotton candy.  Some selections, like the carrots, are obviously the healthier choice.  Others are not so easy to spot.  Here is a chart to help you steer your fun-loving young ones towards the best picks.

 

Weighing Your Options at the Concession Stand

Instead of:	Order:
Doughnut	Soft pretzel
Sausage pizza	Cheese or veggie pizza
Hot dog	Small turkey sub on whole grain bun
Potato chips	Popcorn
French Fries	Apple slices or carrot sticks
Soft drink	100% fruit juice or low-fat milk
Sport drink	Water
Candy bar	Trail mix
Ice cream	Frozen yogurt
Chocolate chip cookies	Low-fat granola bar
Snow cone	100% fruit juice popsicle

If you’re trying to spend quality time with your kids this summer but disgusted with your food options, check out my blog series: What My Family Ate On Our Summer Vacation.  I am going to offer practical tips to help everyone refuel on healthy foods when eating at concession stands, on road trips, and at fast food chains.  All of the tips come from my book Healthy Eating, Healthy Weight for Kids and Teens now available as an E-book.