We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on POPSUGAR Fitness!
by Self
We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on POPSUGAR Fitness!

Game on — and it's your willpower up to bat! We asked nutritionists across the country how to hit concession stands without putting thousands of empty calories on the scoreboard.
Do: Choose Grilled Chicken
These sandwiches are a stadium slam dunk. A ballpark burger can pack up to 500 calories and as many as 10 grams of artery-clogging saturated fat (and that's before cheese and toppings), but the sandwich often comes in at around 300 calories with half the fat.
Do: Get Cracking On Peanuts
Craving popcorn or Cracker Jacks? Opt for plain, unsalted, in-shell peanuts instead, says Chicago dietitian Amari Cheffer, M.S., R.D., LDN. They've got heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, Vitamin E and magnesium—and the act of cracking the shell makes you work a little harder to enjoy them. The catch: A typical eight-ounce bag is much larger than one serving (it can have over 800 calories total), so don't eat more than a quarter of it yourself.
Don't: Sip Sugary Sodas
Save a cool 100-300 calories by sticking to sparkling water, unsweetened iced tea or ice water with lemon. But if a ballgame just isn't the same without soda, don't stress, says New York City-based Marissa Lippert, M.S., R.D. Just order a small size and fill it to the brim with ice. "You're addressing your craving strategically," she says, "since your body won't know you're taking in 10- or 20-percent less soda."
Don't: Get A "Personal" Pizza
Seek out a single slice of plain cheese or veggie instead of devouring a whole personal pan pie-size portion (which packs about 200 additional calories). The 'za can actually deliver heart-healthy benefits, since tomato sauce contains lycopene, an antioxidant. "Interestingly, it's been found to be especially well-absorbed in pizza," says Seattle-based Minh-Hai Tran, M.S., R.D., CSSD.
Do: Be Choosy About Beers
Love your ballpark brews? There's no need to deny yourself, just stop at one or two 12-ounce pours. Choose a low-calorie option like Amstel Light (which has just 95 calories), says New York City-based Keri Glassman, M.S., R.D., and author of The New You and Improved Diet. Or sip a stout beer: Guinness is another low-cal brew (you'll get 25-30 calories less than a regular beer) that also happens to be high in antioxidants.
Keep reading for five more do's and don'ts for the next time you are eating at the ballpark!