Whether you are a hard-core tailgater or not, I’d like to think hotdogs and chips aren’t on the mid-morning tailgate menu! After all, its brunch time and people are likely craving breakfast-brunch-type food. As a dietitian and person who wants a buffet to be pretty, I know it can be overwhelming to think of having a full-blown egg, bacon and pancake spread for all of your party-comers to nibble on, but there are actually some easy brunch food ideas you can whip up!  These foods are easy to walk, talk and cheer with and are easy to keep fresh on your buffet line!

So, for your morning and noon game start times, change it up a bit and give the grill a break! Try these 5 delicious brunch ideas to tickle the tongue of those attending your tailgate party!

1. Skinny pigs-in-a-blanket – There is nothing like baby smokies wrapped up in croissant rolls! In fact, I think of every sleep-over I ever had as a kid when I think of pigs-in-a-blanket – and I smile. But these tasty treats can add up in calories and fat quick! Try using a whole grain flat bread and turkey/chicken sausage links for a skinny pig! You can even sprinkle in some 2% cheese to make it like a kolache if you’d like.
2. Breakfast quesadillas – You can do a lot of things with breakfast quesadillas. Start with whole wheat tortillas then you can choose what you want to fill them. Simply put, you could do egg and low-fat cheese, low-fat cheese and veggie or make it more like a breakfast wrap with egg, low-fat cheese and Canadian bacon or lean sausage. Broil in the oven until toasted, cut into little triangles and they are a handheld breakfast treat!
3. Sweet potato wedges – Take a sweet and healthy twist on hash browns and try sweet potato wedges as a brunch delight! Simply cut sweet potatoes in wedges, drizzle with olive oil and salt and bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. If you want to make these a little sweet, sprinkle them with cinnamon and drizzle with honey for an almost-dessert kind of brunch.
4. Fruit kabobs – Most people enjoy fruit at breakfast and it adds a splash of color and nutrition to any brunch spread! Instead of a fruit bowl, try getting little skewers and making kabobs with your chopped fruit. This is an easy way for party-goers to mingle and eat fruit without a bowl and spoon. If it takes too long to skewer the fruit, then get foil muffin holders and fills those with fruit and a tooth-pick. Your friends will love the easy-to-eat fruit!
5. Egg-cellent muffins – Who doesn’t love eggs at breakfast, brunch or really anytime of the day?! However, scrambled eggs are hard to keep fresh and appetizing over a long game. So, twist up your traditional scrambled eggs with egg muffins. Mix in any veggie, cheese or lean protein you want with you eight eggs, season to taste, whisk away and cook in a 12-count muffin tin on 350 degrees for approximately 20-22 minutes. This protein-rich item is easy to grab and eat on the go.