Hello football season! It's time to get serious about what to eat and drink at your next tailgate. Admittedly, this football season doesn’t look at all like it should, but hey…at least they’re playing, which is of course something to celebrate! Gather friends in your yard, fire up the grill, bring out the T, and pretend you’re at the stadium rooting on your favorite team. Follow along with us to set up the perfect "healthy" tailgate this fall.

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First, what to drink.

Let's keep it light and bubbly with a lovely Aperol Spritz. Made famous in Italy, the Aperol Spritz is a great cocktail to serve in the yard. It's super easy to make, easily customizable, and nice, light, and refreshing. Traditionally, it's 3 parts Proseco, 2 parts Aperol (a bitter/sweet liquor), and a splash of club soda. Pour over ice and add a big wedge of orange. This drink is beautiful in the glass, especially a big wine glass, and tastes perfect! Feel free to use any type of bubbles, and play with the proportions to your taste.

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Next, the food.

Try something a bit different than burgers and dogs. How about a big dish of sausage and peppers? Maybe lighten it up by using your favorite chicken sausage. Take a big foil roasting pan (if you’ve got a crowd) and add:

• Sliced onion
• Sliced peppers in a range of colors (red, yellow, orange, green)
• Optional jalapeño for heat
• Chicken sausage, cut in chunks
• Red skinned potatoes, cubed

Put everything in your foil pan, add a generous splash of olive oil, sprinkle with Italian seasoning, and put the whole pan on a hot grill. Cook until sausage is done, veggies are soft, and potatoes tender. Serve with toothpicks for an easy appetizer or serve in a bowl with some crusty bread on the side. You can even do sandwiches for something more substantial.

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There you have it: an easy backyard tailgate and a great way to spend a sunny fall Saturday rooting on your favorite team!