A Trip to the Game No Longer Means Diet Disaster, According to AHA's Heart Insight

Newswise — Buy me some sushi and veggie wraps? There are a lot more choices besides "peanuts and Cracker Jacks" when you go out to the ballgame these days, according to an article in the May issue of Heart Insight, a quarterly magazine for patients, their families and caregivers, published by the American Heart Association (AHA) and Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins is a part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals, and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health, and pharmacy.

In "Hit A Nutrition Home Run At The Ballpark," health and medical journalist Mark Fuerst presents a "scouting report" on some of the healthy—and delicious—food choices available at several newly-built or renovated big league ballparks. The new Yankee Stadium in The Bronx reflects New York City’s diverse ethnic tastes, with offerings including fresh-made sushi and vegetarian Asian noodles. Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., has "Healthy Plate" carts offering grilled vegetable and turkey wraps, hummus and vegetables, among the healthy options. At Busch Stadium, home of the St. Louis Cardinals, Asian stir-fry stations are located throughout the ballpark.

Healthy Choices Hit a Home Run at Modern BallparksThe healthier, gourmet fare available at today's ballparks often reflects the regional cuisines of the Major League cities, according to Fuerst. "For instance, Seattle Mariners fans watching a home game at Safeco Field can treat themselves to a fresh, wild-caught, grilled salmon sandwich with cole slaw," while "Orioles fans can chow down on crab cakes made from in-season, local Baltimore crabs at Camden Yards."

As Major League Baseball evolved into a big business, ballparks have stepped up to the plate to offer a wider array of new menu choices to meet fans' preferences—from fresh fruits, local produce, and "a cornucopia of salads" to vegan or vegetarian versions of old favorites like burgers and hot dogs. While some of the new options may only be available in suites or other premium seating areas, others can be found at food courts and concession stands throughout the ballpark.

The colorful article also includes helpful tips from a nutritionist on what to choose—and what to avoid—for fans seeking healthier choices. For example, a Tex-Mex burrito (with extra salsa instead of cheese) provides a healthy and satisfying alternative to a sodium- and saturated fat-filled hotdog.

Of course, the standard fare of "lukewarm hot dogs and watery beer" isn’t being sent down to the minors anytime soon. But the new choices are here to stay for fans who want healthy or vegetarian options when they go out with the crowd at the old ballgame.

To read this and all the articles in this month's Heart Insight, visit www.HeartInsights.com, or look for a free copy at your cardiologist's office.

About Heart InsightAn official publication of the American Heart Association (AHA), Heart Insight is the first AHA consumer magazine―for patients, families, and their caregivers―that focuses exclusively on managing and preventing cardiovascular disease and related conditions. Heart Insight offers hope, inspiration, and encouragement by featuring articles about, and by, people who have first-hand experience dealing with cardiovascular conditions, either as patients or as caregivers themselves. Heart Insight is lively and upbeat, providing readers with the most up-to-date, authoritative and practical advice on a wide range of heart-related conditions on a quarterly basis. Heart Insight is available at cardiology offices and in other healthcare settings, as well as free online at www.HeartInsights.com.www.HeartInsights.com.

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (LWW) is a leading international publisher for healthcare professionals and students with nearly 300 periodicals and 1,500 books in more than 100 disciplines publishing under the LWW brand, as well as content-based sites and online corporate and customer services.

LWW is part of Wolters Kluwer Health, a leading provider of information and business intelligence for students, professionals and institutions in medicine, nursing, allied health and pharmacy. Major brands include traditional publishers of medical and drug reference tools and textbooks, such as Lippincott Williams & Wilkins and Facts & Comparisons®; and electronic information providers, such as Ovid®, UpToDate®, Medi-Span® and ProVation® Medical.

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