Top 10 Veg-Friendly Ballparks June 2, 2009

Posted by Marta at June 2, 2009 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 10 ) | TrackBack

One of the true joys of summer, IMHO, is going down to the ballpark for a baseball game. Whether it's the Boston Red Sox or your local single-A team, there's nothing like the crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, and the feeling of an ice cold beverage in one hand and a delicious hot dog in the other.

"Um, peta2? Hot dog?!? Helloooooooo ... "

You heard me. Now quit asking questions. Of course I'm referring to the delicious veggie dogs that more and more ballparks around the country are serving up these days. In fact, vegetarians and vegans have so much deliciousness to enjoy at the ballpark this year that, once again, we've put together our list of the Top 10 Most Veg-Friendly Ballparks this great land of ours has to offer.

Check out our list below, and if you're lucky enough to live near one of these great ballparks, make sure you hit up a game this summer so you can get your teeth into some of these fantastic vegetarian options!

1. Citizens Bank Park (Philadelphia Phillies): The Phillies are the first-ever dynasty when it comes to delicious vegetarian fare. Now that they've added Southwestern black bean burgers and faux "crab cake" salads to an already stacked lineup that included veggie "steak" and veggie "chicken" sandwiches, veggie dogs, vegetable wraps, and various salads, we've noticed a connection between CBP's vegetarian rankings and the team's on-field success that tells us the Phils may well be on their way to another World Series crown.

2. AT&T Park (San Francisco Giants): The only thing more solid at AT&T Park than the Giants pitching staff is the stadium's amazing array of meat-free fare, including veggie dogs, Gardenburgers, portobello mushroom sandwiches, grilled corn on the cob, grilled vegetable sandwiches, vegetarian pot stickers, veggie sushi, edamame, and much more.

3. Coors Field (Colorado Rockies): Colorado fans drool over Coors Field's delicious meat-free options like fantasy team owners drool over Todd Helton on draft day. This year, Rockies fans can enjoy veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetable wraps, veggie sandwiches with grilled peppers and onions, vegetable panini, roasted portobello sandwiches, and vegetarian burritos.

4. Turner Field (Atlanta Braves): You never know when freak health ailments will plague a player (just ask Brian McCann about his vision problems), but Braves fans can help to fend off heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity by going vegetarian. Meat-free options at Turner Field include veggie burgers, vegetable sandwiches, vegetable wraps, vegetarian pasta, assorted salads, a farmer's market fruit and vegetable stand, and fresh fruit smoothies.

5. Minute Maid Park (Houston Astros): With Men's Fitness magazine having ranked Houston one of the fattest cities in the U.S., it's a good thing that Minute Maid Park offers Astros fans so many delicious, healthy vegetarian options. (Vegetarians are less prone to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and obesity than meat-eaters are.) Astros fans can choose veggie dogs, vegetable hoagies, baked potatoes, fresh fruit smoothies, made-to-order salads, fresh fruit platters, black beans, pinto beans, an oven-roasted vegetable medley, and corn on the cob.

6. PETCO Park (San Diego Padres): Although the Padres' batting lineup is struggling, the team's lineup of yummy vegetarian options is stacked. The stadium offers veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetarian sushi rolls, fresh fruit salad, gourmet vegetable salads, roasted corn, and PB&J. Although PETA has serious issues with PETCO, PETA loves the Padres for providing healthy, humane fare to fans in "America's Finest City."

7. Comerica Park (Detroit Tigers): While the great city of Detroit is struggling through some tough times, things are looking up for vegetarian and health-conscious Tigers fans, who can enjoy delicious veggie dogs, veggie burgers, vegetarian sushi, vegetable egg rolls, vegetable stir-fry, meatless taco salads, vegetable wraps, and fruit cups.

8. U.S. Cellular Field (Chicago White Sox): The south side of Chicago is the place to be for animal-friendly baseball fans this summer. White Sox fans can enjoy veggie dogs, Gardenburgers, vegetarian taco salads, corn off the cob, fresh fruit cups, and PB&J.

9. Oriole Park at Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles): Birds fans would be disgusted to know that the meat industry drugs chickens and turkeys, making them grow so fat that their legs often become crippled under their own weight. Luckily, Orioles diehards can help prevent such cruelty by choosing mouthwatering vegetarian options such as veggie burgers, veggie dogs, vegetable wraps, vegetable panini, various salads, made-to-order sandwiches, and fresh fruit cups as Camden Yards cracks PETA's list for the first time.

10. (tie) Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers): What better proof that an athlete can be kind to animals while still knocking the cover off the ball than Prince Fielder? Off to another solid season, Prince can enjoy delicious vegetarian options such as veggie dogs, vegetable wraps, fresh tossed salads, fresh fruit, made-to-order stir-fry, and baked potatoes at Miller Park concession stands.

10. (tie) Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs): After being plagued for years by an angry goat and a spurned black cat, the Cubs might finally get on the good side of the animal world with their first-ever appearance on PETA's Vegetarian-Friendly Ballparks list. Vegetarian options at Wrigley field include Gardenburgers, black bean burgers, assorted salads, vegetable wraps, and a Healthy Kids meal (PB&J, juice box, and fruits and veggies).

Do you wish your local ballpark had veggie options? Stop wishing and start asking! Who knows, maybe your favorite team will end up on the list next year.

BBQ and Baseball July 3, 2007

Posted by Marta at July 3, 2007 1:34 PM | Permalink | Comments ( 2 ) | TrackBack

With the 4th of July almost upon us, the smell of grilled flesh can be found everywhere and let's face it—it's downright nasty for vegetarians. However, if you're as lucky as I am, you'll be spending tomorrow at all all-vegan BBQ. Okay, so I totally realize that not that many people are as lucky as I am, so that's why you gotta show those meat-eaters just how delectable veggie food can be. If you're going to a cook-out tomorrow, make sure to bring along some Gardenburger Riblets, a few Boca burgers, or some Tofurky 'Foot Long' Veggie Dogs for all to enjoy. Or try whipping up some veggie kebabs with zucchini, tomatoes, onions, pineapple, eggplant, mushrooms, potatoes, and peppers, slathered up in a juicy marinade.

If you're feeling fancy, throw on your 'Kiss the Cook' apron and get started on some other summer grilling recipes here. Yum, yum. My stomach is rumbling just thinking about the delicious food I will be consuming tomorrow.

Speaking of delicious cook-out food, guess what?! I ate my first-ever veggie dog at a Norfolk Tides baseball game last weekend! I know, I was totally behind-the-times, but I was very, very apprehensive about trying one after I found a bone in a real hot dog when I was little. So gross! Needless to say, after the rave reviews from all of my friends, I bought a veggie dog and piled on the ketchup, mustard, onions, relish, and sauerkraut, and it was absolutely delicious! Here's a shot of me at the game with just a bite left (and in case you're wondering—yes, I did manage to get mustard all over my ring):


There are tons of veg-friendly ball parks out there—PETA even compiles a list every year of the Top 10 Veg-Friendly Ball Parks. Check out last year's list here, and if you live near one of the ball parks, then you need to buy some tickets, chow down on veggie dogs and vegetarian sushi (yeah, so random!), and thank me later for your day of fun.

Happy 4th of July (or Happy Tomorrow, for the many of you not in the US!), and keep your eye on the blog—cause I just might post some mouth-watering post-BBQ photos for you on Thursday!

♥ Marta

PS - There are rumors flying about that the Stars and Stripes Starkiss Bar from Dairy Queen is non-dairy and yummy. Has anyone tried it?