Dallas Sporting Events: Guilt-Free Survival Guide!

Summertime in Dallas is all about great Ranger's Baseball at the Global Life Ballpark and awesome concerts and events at the American Airlines Center. (Not to mention the NBA Mav's Playoffs... On a good year!)

Here are some great tips for guilt-free snacking at the American Airlines Center and the Global Life Ballpark.

The American Airlines Center: Perfect eats and drinks for cheering on the Mavs, rooting for the Stars or rocking out to a great concert.

- The So-So Choice: Taco Bueno located outside of section 105 and 117. Not everything is healthy, but in comparison to the other arena options, it's not the worst choice and you know exactly how many calories you're taking in. Go for a Crunchy Beef Taco (or 2). They have 210 calories each. Not bad!

-The Best Choice: Look for the Market-to-go Cart located outside of section 105. They offer Deli Sandwiches, a Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich, and a Grilled Vegetable Wrap (pictured- I had it it. It was pretty good. A little messy. I'd estimate it at 400 calories max. The wrap was $6.00 - not bad. The flour tortilla was filled with grilled zucchini, squash, onions,  peppers, and cabbage with a smoked tomato dressing.) The grab-and-go cart also had veggie and fruit cups- awesome!                                                                                                                

- My Best Advice: Skip the nachos, burgers and fries. Instead, look for packaged items with calories counts. Good choices are located all over the arena and include Lemon Chills (220 calories per serving), Sun Chips (210-230 calories per bag), fruit candies (like twizlers or skittles), and frozen ice cream pops like the Rainbow Pop for 110 calories - yum!

The Global Life Ballpark: Don't strike out with calories while cheering on the Rangers! Instead, enjoy a low-cal Michelobe Ultra on a hot day, and some great snacks!

- The So-So Choice: A hot pretzel or cotton candy. They are easy to find, and not awful! Either snack will run you an estimated 200-250 calories.

- The Best Choice: Look for the Centerfield Market located behind centerfield. Inside that "convenient store" concessions building I found fruit and veggie cups, gluten free hot dogs, Cracker Jacks (only 240 calories for this traditional baseball snack!), 70-calorie beef jerky packs and more! Lots of great options. I really enjoyed the fruit cup with strawberries, watermelon, cantaloupe, and pineapple- yummy and refreshing! 

- My best advice: Skip the giant hot dog and sugary frozen margaritas. Instead (like the AAC), find the packaged snacks with nutrition labels. The pistachios were an awesome find! The big bag had three 160 calorie servings, so share with friends! I also spotted baked lays at a lot of different concession stands in the ballpark, so be on the lookout for those too! 

All-in-all, it's not hard to enjoy a great game and great eats without feeling guilty. You just need to scope out these great finds! Happy Hunting!

Go Mavs!

Go Stars!

Go Rangers! 

Red Lobster's "Mix and Match" Lighthouse Menu

Red Lobster's Lighthouse Menu features awesome mix and match options to create a guilt-free and healthy dining out experience that's tasty, filling, and high in omega 3-sounds good to me!

First- choose a main dish (all options include steamed broccoli in the calorie count).

1. Wood-Grilled Fresh Salmon

290 cal, 10g fat

2. Wood-Grilled Fresh Tilapia 

190 cal, 5.5g fat

3. Wood-Grilled Fresh Rainbow Trout 

200 cal, 9g fat

4. Rock Lobster Tail

210 cal, 2g fat

Then, pick a side:

(Or sub broccoli for a different side combo, and subtract 40 calories from the above count)

1. Roasted Vegetable Medley

40cal, 1g fat

2. Green Beans

50 cal, 1.5g fat

3. Fresh Asparagus 

60 cal, 3g fat

4. Fresh Broccoli

40cal, 0g fat

Plus, your meal includes a side salad (100 calories) to start. Ask for it with vinaigrette dressing (50 calories).

And, why not enjoy a cheddar biscuit too? They are crazy good! Each biscuit has 150 calories, so enjoy every bite!

Looking for an appetizer to share? Indulge in the Chilled jumbo Shrimp Cocktail- Only 120 calories, so share a few with the table! 

My meal pick (featured below):

Side salad with vinaigrette dressing, Grilled Tilapia, broccoli, vegetable medley, and a cheddar biscuit- total calorie count for the meal: 530 calories- Not too bad at all!   

Get Smart with DD Smart

Add Dunkin' Donuts breakfast to your to do list! Not only do they offer great coffee, but their coffee comes in lots of great sugarfree flavors, and they have a fantastic DD Smart menu!

My morning go to coffee choice is a medium hot or iced coffee with hazelnut, skim milk and Splenda for only 40 calories. There is a laundry list of non-sweetened flavors you can add to your coffee for no additional calories including blueberry, caramel, cinnamon, coconut, French vanilla, hazelnut, raspberry, and toasted almond.

By the way, Dunkin is offering free coffee every Monday through May 12th, so stop by soon!

The DD smart menu has lots of great options as well. My personal favorite is an egg white and turkey sausage flatbread sandwich with cheese. This delicious and filling breakfast is only 280 calories. The egg white and turkey sausage wake-up wrap is only 150 calories. It tastes delicious, but it is not that filling, so you may want to pair it with a fruit for a healthy and protein heavy breakfast. If you are a big fan of the McDonald's Egg McMuffin, instead try the DD smart egg white and turkey sausage sandwich on an English muffin with cheese for 390 calories. 

Other DD smart options:

- Egg and cheese on an English muffin (240 calories)

- Ham egg and cheese on an English muffin (280 calories)

- Sliced turkey breakfast sandwich (310 calories) 

- Egg white veggie flatbread (280 calories) 

- Whole wheat bagel (320 calories)

Americans who love guilt-free breakfast choices run on Dunkin! 

Sub in a Tub!

I absolutely love the idea of Jersey Mike's "Sub in a Tub!" What a fun way to enjoy their delicious deli meats and cheeses with little to no carbs! When you order your Sub in a Tub, you get the freshly sliced deli meat and/or cheese of your choice over a bed of shredded lettuce and topped with the veggies and sauces of your choice! Most options are under 300 calories! Plus, there's no extra charge. I hate when restaurants charge you extra for the healthiest choice on the menu!

I went with the turkey and provolone sub option (235 calories- I estimated mine at 250 calories with the honey mustard and extra veggies.) Choose from lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and jalapeños. I love how the meat and cheese is fresh and thinly sliced right in front of you. That really sets Jersey Mike's apart from its competition! Pair your Sub in a Tub with a bag of Baked Lays and a Diet Coke for an added 130 calories. 

Other then the turkey and provolone option, there are more great options on the menu for under 300 calories.

-BLT Sub in a Tub: 280 calories

-Jersey Shore Favorite Sub in a Tub : 270 calories  

(Ham, Provolone, and Cappauolo)

-American Classic Sub in a Tub: 270 calories 

(Ham and Provolone)

-Super Sub in a Tub: 290 calories

(Ham, Provolone, Prosciuttini and Cappacuolo)

BJ's Enlightened Picks

Become enlightened by the new items (and classics) available on the Enlightened Entrées menu at BJ's Brewhouse. While my ordering tips below also include low-cal options off the fun, guilt-free menu, everything on lighter menu contains 795 calories or less. Honestly, I find that calorie count really high, so I'd stick to the options under 600. 

Cocktails:

Three Enlightened Cocktail choices under 130 calories- all served in a pretty big glass! 

- Skinny Rita: Tequila, Agave, Lime, and Orange. The orange makes it really good!

-Mojito Lite: Bacardi Rum, Sugar Free Triple Sec, Fresh Lime and Mint, and Club Soda. I loved the taste! Highly Recommend.

-Guilt-Free Cosmo: (not my thing, so I didn't try it) Vodka, Sugar Free Triple Sec, Cranberry Juice, Lemon and Lime.

- or, you can always go with a classic vodka and club soda with lemon and lime!

Shareable Appetizers/Small Bites:

There aren't any listed on the menu, but here my top, guilt free picks.

-Ahi Poke: 420 calories for the full order. Delicious ahi tuna with onions, diced avocados and wonton chips.

-Flatbread Pizzas: 90-110 Calories per slice. Choose from 4 options- California Club, Margarita, Roasted Veggie, Extreme Pepperoni

-Stuffed Spinach Mushrooms: 230 for the full order (includes 6). These are really good! - My top pick!

Giant Mushrooms filled with Spinach and Artichoke Dip, feta cheese, red onions, bread crumbs and parmesan cheese, then topped with a drizzle of lemon pesto sauce.

Enlightened Entrees:

(My picks, not the full menu. I omitted  the items that didn't interest me, and ones over 610 calories. View the full menu here: http://www.bjsrestaurants.com/menus/enlightened-entrees)

-Cherry Chipotle Glazed Salmon 

(My top pick! Great taste and filling portion size for the calorie count)

490 Calories

Oven roasted Atlantic salmon topped with a cherry chipotle glaze, roasted asparagus and tomato spinach couscous. 

-Seared Ahi Salad 

(My friend ordered this, and really enjoyed it! The size was filling and the Ahi tuna was well-done... In a good way!)

490 Calories

Baby field greens, cabbage, romaine and red bell peppers tossed with rice wine vinaigrette. With tomatoes, avocado, pickled cucumber, cilantro, wasabi, crisp wonton strips and green onions. 

-Hawaiian Mahi-Mahi 

(Love it! My go-to choice... Until I tried the cherry salmon above- but still yummy!)

420 Calories

Oven roasted mahi-mahi served over stir-fried vegetables and roasted pineapple fried rice mixed with a spicy soy ginger sauce then topped with snow peas, red bell peppers and sesame seeds.

-Honey Lime Seared Scallops 

(Very tasty, but a small portion. A good choice if you share a few appetizers first, or want an extra cocktail!)

350 Calories

Seared scallops topped with tomato, basil and honey lime vinaigrette. Served with oven roasted asparagus and garlic seasoned brown rice.

-Lemon Thyme Chicken 

(Just over 600 calories, so I kept it on my list. I hope to try it soon.)

610 Calories

Herb-roasted chicken breast served over brown rice, topped with sautéed onions, tomatoes and Brussels sprouts in lemon thyme sauce. 

-Moroccan Spiced Salmon 

(Next on my to-try list!)

500 Calories

Oven roasted salmon with a savory blend of spices, served over roasted vegetable couscous. Topped with pickled cucumbers, red onions, toasted almonds and green onions and drizzled with red pepper sauce.

Desserts:

BJ's is famous for their Pizzookie... If the table orders one to share, have a small bite to taste... The whole thing is around 1,100 calories- depending on the flavor. Eek!!! 

Instead, have a scoop of ice cream, a second cocktail, or suggest going out for fro-yo! 

All in all, a great guilt-free eating out option for date night, family night, or out with friends! They have lots of options, which I love, and their site lists all the nutrition facts- awesome! 

All the Taste. Half the Fat.

Don't say no to ice cream, say hello to the many DELICIOUS flavors of Dreyer's Slow Churned. All the Taste. Half the Fat. 1/3 the calories of regular ice cream. Here's to dessert!!

My Top 5 Favorite Flavors:

1. Cookie Dough: creamy vanilla light ice cream loaded with cookie dough pieces and chocolate chips.

130 calories per 1/2 cup serving

2. Mint Cookie Crunch: mint light ice cream with chunks of chocolate cookies.

120 calories per 1/2 cup serving

3. Nestlé Drumstick Sundae Cone: vanilla light ice cream swirled with fudge, chocolate coated peanuts and cone pieces.

120 calories per 1/2 cup serving

4. Peanut Butter Cup: vanilla light ice cream with chocolate peanut butter cups and peanut butter swirls.

130 calories per 1/2 cup serving 

5. No Sugar Added Fudge Tracks with Splenda: fudge swirled vanilla light ice cream with mini peanut butter cups

110 calories per 1/2 cup serving

  

BOUNS: Limited Time Only-  Cinnamon Bun: vanilla light ice cream with cinnamon bun swirls. Only in stores until the end of April- so get it soon! I found it at Target!

110 calories per 1/2 cup serving

  

  

  

  

NEW (and free!) Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee

Delicious, low calorie, and free...! You can't go wrong with that! Stop by your closest 7-11 today and try the new Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee! It was delicious, and only 25 calories per 20oz serving - awesome! 

Plus, download the 7-11 app or text DIETCOKE to 711711 for a free small Diet Cherry Coke Slurpee!

I know it's cold again here in crazy Texas, but a low-cal Slurpee is still a great afternoon pick me up!