Eat like a champ at the ballpark
Can you hit a nutritional home run at a Rangers game? Let's take a look at the season's lineup.
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
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Let's be honest, no one goes to a ballgame expecting healthful food.
Isn't wolfing down a hot dog and nachos with day-glo cheese (and later, antacid), as much a part of the great American sports experience as rooting for the home team and shouting not-nice words at the umpire?
But at many professional sports arenas around the country, including Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, there are a surprising number of options that go beyond the typical dogs and peanuts. And that's not even including the menu of the Cuervo Club, where the choices include fish sandwiches and Thai shrimp salad; or the Diamond Club restaurant, with a $23 all-you-can-eat buffet that looks to be at least the quality of a mid-level hotel. Around the ballpark, concession stands offer the peanuts and popcorn you would expect, plus fresh fruit cups that you create yourself, wraps, salads and international beers and microbrews.
From these choices, we've selected a handful that you might consider if you're counting calories, and some you should stay away from. Then there are some surprises -- who knew a cinnamon roll had about as many calories as a funnel cake? The "winner" in each pairing is the food with fewer calories, although the fat grams may be higher. The nutrition information for each of these items represents one portion.
EAT THIS Beef hot dog, no chili
Calories: 260
Fat: 15 grams
vs.
NOT THISChipotle chicken wrap
Calories: 380
Fat: 6 grams
EAT THIS Garden salad with grilled chicken
Calories: 269
Total fat: 5 grams
vs.
NOT THIS Taco salad (small)
Calories: 279
Fat: 15 grams
EAT THIS Cajun fries
Calories: 578
Fat: 32 grams
vs.
NOT THIS Nachos
Calories: 975
Fat: 24 grams
EAT THIS Cinnamon roll
Calories: 403
Fat: 22 grams
vs.
NOT THIS Funnel cake
Calories: 417
Fat: 20 grams
EAT THIS Polish sausage on a stick
Calories: 326
Fat: 29 grams
vs.
NOT THIS Turkey croissant
Calories: 389
Fat: 18 grams
Source: Delaware North Companies
Texas Rangers vs. Oakland A's
7:05 tonight, 6:05 p.m. Saturday, 2:05 p.m. Sunday
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
For tickets, call 817-273-5100 or visit www.texasrangers.com
The Diamond Club, with an all-you-can-eat buffet, opens two hours before the game and closes one hour after the game starts. Call 817-795-9006, ext. 2034.
For information about the Cuervo Club, which is open throughout the game, call 817-436-5972. It also has a lounge with leather chairs; tickets in these seats are available at 972-RANGERS.
There's also Rawlings All American Grille, open daily year-round. Learn more at www.rawlingsrestaurants.com/arlington.html
And if you're curious about recipes for some of the higher-end offerings at Rangers Ballpark and other sports venues around North America, food contractor Delaware North Companies published the cookbook Home Plate: From Hot Dogs to Haute Cuisine last year. It's $50. Visit www.delawarenorth.com.
mlowry@star-telegram.com
