Fall has taken its time showing up this year, but cooler weather is hitting most of the country. Not that football fans mind; die-hard fans are preparing for the second (and most important) half of football season. That means they need to be ready for long, cold days of tailgating. The goal is to stay warm without compromising the fun. If you follow these 5 tailgating tips, you'll stay healthy and comfortable even in the coldest football weather.
Food & Drinks: Cook for the Weather
While it's always nice to grill hot dogs and hamburgers early in the football season, you may have to change the menu once the weather cools down.
Eating food designed for cold weather will taste good and keep you warm at the same time. A nice bowl of chili or a hearty soup are great winter tailgating ideas. Since they can be made ahead of time, you can just re-heat them in a crock pot, which avoids too much prep in the cold. Also consider preparing food that's easy to eat; dips and other food can quickly turn into a mess if your guests are wearing gloves or mittens.
A cold beer may be the drink of choice by most tailgaters, but it's not a blast to drink in freezing weather. Drinking cider, coffee, or hot chocolate is a great way to have a tasty drink while staying warm. If you want to add alcohol to your drink, there are several liquor choices that pair well with these hot drinks. There are also a lot of fun drinks for winter (like eggnog), and just like the food, you can prepare them at home.
Pack A Bag
Some football tailgates feel more like mini-vacations than football games. Listen to the tips your mom used to give you: keep your feet, ears, and hands warm. You may take a few layers off as the days heats up, but you never know with winter weather. Blankets and chair covers are also good ideas. Umbrellas and jackets are other items to throw in your football to-go bag...because again, you just never know.
Use a Tailgate Heater
The best possible way to stay warm while sitting around before the game is to use a portable space heater. These are great options because they're lightweight, easy to move to different places, and simple to use. Most hardcore tailgaters have some sort of electricity source for TVs, food, and other items. And most space heaters plug into a standard 120-volt outlet.
The QMark Fahrenheit MMHD1502T Portable Utility Heater is a popular tailgating heater. Since it only weighs 9 pounds, you can easily transport it to every game. The 2 heat settings should also keep everyone warm whether it's a chilly day or frigid winter morning. Select portable heaters don't require any type of power source. Usually fueled by propane gas or kerosene, you can literally take these models anywhere outdoors.
Dyna-Glo offers some pretty powerful outdoor industrial heaters. They're probably not your best bet for a small group in a truck bed, but consider them if you have large groups of people with multiple tents. Just add fuel and carry one to your tailgating space for a rush of hot air.
Keep Moving
Moving around is one of the best ways to stay warm while tailgating on a cold winter day. Throwing around a football is the most obvious suggestion, but other popular tailgating games like corn hole will warm you up throughout the day. Not only will you keep your body temperature up, but these are fun ways to prepare for the upcoming game (and forget how crazy you are for sitting outside in the freezing cold!).
Have Fun
The goal of every tailgate session is to have fun and prepare for the big game. With the right preparations, weather never gets in the way. And don't forget, body heat also helps. Invite your friends, even if they don't care about the game. They'll get free food and drinks--and give off a little warmth too!
Have any other tips for winter tailgating? Tell us in the comments below or share them on Facebook and Twitter.
In Summary
From food and drinks to shelter and heating, everyone's tailgating essentials are different. What is a must-have though is being prepared to have fun and cheer on your team.
