Make Your Tailgating More Green and Help Save the Planet

Simple Ways to Change Your Habits
 
In today’s world, we are always looking for better ways to reuse and recycle. Tailgater’s need to join in and do our part. Think about it, a stadium holds up to 100,000 fans at each game. That adds up to a lot of waste. Here are some simple ways to do join in the cause.

Smart Choices:

• Are you aware that Solo Cup Company has a line of products. They are made of post-consumer recycled PET. Bare By Solo cups are made from about 20% recycled PET, providing a market for the billions of pounds of plastic bottles that Americans recycle annually.
  
  
• Preserve tableware is made from a thicker resin of plastic that allows multiple uses. The great thing about Preserve tableware products is that they are made from 100% recycled polypropylene (plastic #5 or PP).
  
  
• You may not be aware of this, but Plastic #5 is not as widely accepted in curbside recycling programs as other resins like PET (plastic #1), so it’s a great use of a hard-to-recycle plastic.

Propane Grill or Charcoal Grilling.

Here are some things to consider before deciding to use propane or charcoal grills. These seem like easy questions, but they are important ones.

1. Which one is cheaper and faster?
2. Which one gives you more flavor?
3. And, last but not least, which one is more eco-friendly?

A recent study by Environment Impact Assessment Review had this to say.
 
“As a fuel, LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) is dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production and considerably more efficient in cooking.” The two grilling methods, charcoal using 998 kg of CO2, almost three times more than propane, which weighed in at 349 kg.
According to this study, “the overwhelming factors are that as a fuel, LPG ScienceDaily reports that as fuel, LPG is “dramatically more efficient than charcoal in its production.” And when purchasing a propane tank, always make sure there is a trade-in option. Almost all retailers will let you bring in an empty tank in exchange for a discount on your next tank.


Now Let’s Think About Recycling
 

Recently, I went through my chest of drawers and was appalled at how many T-shirts I found with my team’s logo on them. Some of these I can’t remember the last time I wore them because they are now, sadly, too small. So I thought it would be great to be creative and make a table cloth for my next tailgate. How different would that be? So I’m not going to throw anything away, but recycle them and enjoy all the memories. Go to www.epa.gov/recyclecity/ for more information on recycling. Other ideas is to make bandanas and napkins. All you need is a pair of scissors. You could even add a cute fringe!



Benefits of Recycling

• Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness.
  
  
• Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
  
  
• Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
  
  
• Recycling saves energy.
  
  
• Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
  
  
• Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
  
  
• Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.

Organic and Farmers Markets are Good Snack Sources
 
You can’t have a proper tailgate without the perfect game day snacks. This is a great opportunity to use your favorite organic recipes and seasonal fruits and veggies. Also, please see my article on Tailgating – Healthier With No Salt.
1. I personally love my Whole Foods Recipe Book for fruits and veggie snacks. Also, my community has a couple of excellent Farmer’s Markets. I’m sure yours does too. Just google farmers market and you city and you will probably get more resources than you ever imagined. By the way, Google is my new best friend!
2. Ever think about brewing your own beer. Or try organic beer, it is brewed with organically harvested barley and hops. I found it to be tastier and better for you.
3. There are tons of healthy recipes on the web. So take a little time and explore away. I think you’ll be surprised how easy and tasty some of them are. Then, be a friendly tailgate neighbor and share them. It’s an easy and fun way to get to know your tailgate neighbors.  

Add Music to the MixAdd Music and Warmth to the Mix
 

1. You gotta have music! But don’t waste your car battery by using its radio. There is a cool solar-powered portable outlet. It’s perfect for your iPod sound system.
2. For hardcore fans that tailgate in the snow, you need all the help you can get for those all day outdoor tailgates. The answer is a solar powered generator, they supply renewable energy. But be prepared to pay up to $1,000 for these. Now, not all of us can shell out that kind of money, so you might want to consider creating your own solar-powered generator using parts you can buy at the local hardware store or online.

Change Your Habits and Change the World
 
How about including a recycle bin in your tailgating gear. As you can see, it just takes a few simple changes to make a difference. And after a while, it becomes a habit. Since we are creatures of habit, let’s make them good habits!

Jimmy Buffet Video

Grilling Safety

A great book on safety tips is authored by Patrick Neely, co-host of Food Network’s “Down Home with the Neely”. Tip #1: use long tongs and use wood chips if you plan to smoke your mean. With long tongs you can reach over into your grill and really flip the meat. With short longs or a fork there is more potential of burning yourself. Tip #2: remember is to keep young children and animals at least 10 feet away from the grill. Tip #3: keep the coals hot and the flame low. If you're adding wood chips, he recommends soaking them in water for an hour before putting them on the flame. That way, they tamper out any active flames and give off a rich smoke that flavors the meat. Tip #4: keep the coals hot and the flame low. If you're adding wood chips, he recommends soaking them in water for an hour before putting them on the flame. That way, they tamper out any active flames and give off a rich smoke that flavors the meat.

"Try and do as much as you can prior to your party," Neely says. "When you're having a barbecue guests don't want to see you working and sweating at the grill. You want to kick back and have a good time and have everyone enjoying the atmosphere."

While safety is important, sometimes it can be best fostered by good preparation so that you're free to enjoy your food and your guests without jeopardizing safety while rushing to do too many things at once.

Great Tailgating Planning Tips

The first step in planning any event is to make sure there are people there! Check your club or organization list and make sure everyone received an invitation. Remember to include other friends and relatives too. Always make certain that the time, place and meet up time are correct. But because of the increased popularity of Tailgating, many Universities have designated spots in parking lots that you can reserve. Be sure you are familiar with the rules, especially pertaining to alcohol. Stricter rules are now being enforced at many universities. So if that is an important issue to you, you might want to consider the Tailgate party being held in your back yard or driveway.

Another thing to remember is to make sure that the arrival time on the invitation will allow your arrival time at the site about 3-4 hours early. Most people plan for the trip home to begin about two hours after the game has ended. This allows time after the game to visit, to clean up and you will miss the mad dash out of the stadium. Everyone needs to know if a group meal is planned or individual meals. Be sure and include that information in the invitation. A group meal makes it easier for all parties concerned. The person planning the party can frequently be in charge of the meat, with the others bringing side dishes.

The simpler the better, but the tailgate party has grown from simply carrying supplies in the trunk, to entire corporations with hospitality booths. Most tailgaters have a grill of sorts and cook out under the open sky. Because of the popularity of Tailgate Parties and traveling meals, grills that attach to your vehicles have been designed and are sold everywhere.

Stay tuned for more great tailgating ideas!

Word Origin of Tailgate

–noun

1.	the board or gate at the back of a wagon, truck, station wagon, etc., which can be removed or let down for convenience in loading or unloading.

–verb (used without object)

2.	to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of another vehicle.

–verb (used with object)

3.	to follow or drive hazardously close to the rear of (another vehicle).

–adjective

4.	pertaining to or set up on a tailgate: a tailgate picnic before the football game.

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Origin:
1850–55, Americanism; tail ¹ + gate

Rain or Shine Canopy

Tailgate products including the Mosquito Magnet, Tailgate Canopies, BBQ grills, wine coolers, custom card table covers, Tailgate Camping Chairs and Tailgate Cookbooks.