Packing a soft cooler, filling it with healthy food, snacks and water and bringing it to the ballpark will exponentially improve your overall baseball fan experience.

Most folks assume you can’t bring food into stadiums and sports arenas. It’s easy to feel forced into crunching nachos and Crackerjacks. I’ve heard this typical narrative:

I thoroughly enjoyed my day at the yard watching my favorite team, but now I feel like the pile of garbage I consumed in the hot sun. It sucks not having options.

I’ll go ahead and stop you right there. With a little forethought, you have plenty of options. Check out these rules snatched directly from the Nationals’ ballpark regulations list:

All food items must be contained in single serving bags within a soft-sided container or cooler that does not exceed 16″x16″x8″.

Okay, that’s easy enough. We can work with that.

I can’t say that I’ve scoured every ballpark and arena’s policy. Major league ballparks are easy, but many minor league stadiums are a different bag (see what I did there?). Pawtucket, for example, might be intimidating for some. That’s their intention. They want you to purchase their grub (well, what they present as such):

International League Rules states: “In the interest of public safety, no cans, bottles, food or containers may be brought into International League ballparks.” PawSox ushers and security staff are instructed to NOT allow food or drink into McCoy Stadium.

Ouch. That stings. Remember my post on being resourceful? Good.

I just called McCoy Stadium. I expressed to them that I have food allergies (I don’t have food allergies, per se), and asked if I could bring my own nourishment. Their response: “Of course, just call ahead and let us know what food items you’ll be bringing in, and it will be no problem.”

Don’t judge me. Technically, I was telling the truth.

World English Dictionary

allergy  (ˈælədʒɪ)
— n  , pl -gies
	a hypersensitivity to a substance that causes the body to react to any contact with that substance

Yup, that’s me. When I ingest the yellow #5 in cotton candy, I realize the error of my ways, get cranky and, well, hypersensitive.

Seriously, while I don’t recommend fibbing about food allergies, I stand behind the broader point that with a strong will there is a way. Ring the minor league club’s director of operations, the assistant GM, whomever. Tell them you have personal dietary restrictions that won’t allow you to eat ballpark cuisine. Let them know that the moment they bring in whole organic options, you’ll be a buyer. Express that you deserve to enjoy a splendid meal while watching the game just like any other fan, and you want the choice. If your case is compelling, you’ll be surprised how accommodating a business can be.

Now that you know how to bend the rules, you don’t have an excuse. If you want to plan an indulgence and plow through a couple beers and dogs, you have my backing. If you want to remain on point, stay tuned, and I’ll tell you what to stuff in that soft cooler.

Love y’all,

Kap