Alcohol. Brutal weather. Physical activity. Traffic jams. More alcohol and that's before kickoff. You need to strengthen all that and more.
The perfect tailgate food must:
Be easy to prepare. While it does not have to be as simple as flipping a hamburger, you should be able to get by with the basic equipment cookout. Many people prefer to cook on site so you do not need the additional stress of having to bring along your entire kitchen.
Slow absorption of alcohol. For better or worse, is a fact that people drink while tailgating, sometimes to excess. The rate at which alcohol is absorbed depends on how fast the stomach empties its contents into the intestine. The higher the fat content in the diet, more time will be needed emptying and the longer the process of absorption will - in other words, you will feel "less drunk". Foods containing fats, proteins, carbohydrates and reports are excellent to slow the absorption process.
Keep heat. In some areas the weather conditions during the football season can be ridiculous. Foods that are rich in niacin (animal liver, eggs, cheese) and spicy foods stimulate blood circulation and keep your body warm.
Be familiar. This is not to discourage you from engaging in exotic cuisine / outside, but as any parent of picky eaters can tell you, "no matter what it is, if you do not eat it."
Be affordable. If money was no object then we would all be dining on Kobe beef and lobster tails.
