Last Updated on September 27, 2022 by Jason Nguyen
Food may not be the first thing that pops into the mind when you think about a music concert. Often, what comes to mind is crowds of people screaming, speakers booming, and people dancing and having a good time.
Despite all that, concert-goers will need to replenish their energy reserves from time to time. Almost every person loves food and hopes they can have it within reach, irrespective of where they are. This love for food is based on the fact that it is the fuel that keeps the body functional.
If you are considering going to an outdoor event and wondering what foods or drinks will go well, this guide can help you figure that out. No matter your preferences, allergies, or concert type, you will find something to make your experience at a music concert the best.
Potato Chips and Crisps
If a concert is going on for hours, you will need to snack at some point. Potato chips or crisps are some of the most convenient food to take to a concert. First, you can’t mess with potato chips because they are almost dry, save for a little oil, and you do not want food that could spill and cause a mess if it accidentally spills on you or other people.
Also, chips and crisps are a good option because they pack just the right calories for a high-energy event like an outdoor festival. Forget about their bad rap as unhealthy food.
It is highly unlikely that they will impact your health for one day, plus you will be quite active, and you may spend more calories than you can gain from them.
Pizza
Pizza may not be the first food that pops your head when you think of a concert. But surprisingly, it has been a favorite among partygoers for decades. Unless you are attending a significantly crammed festival, pizza is a good choice of food to take with you to a concert.
Pizza is the best choice if you want a snack that will give you the same effect as eating a regular meal. While one large pizza is enough snacks for three adults, you may need to have one pizza for two people if you are looking to get full.
The main disadvantage to choosing pizza as a snack for a festival is that it can be pretty greasy, so you may need to carry some napkins to wipe off grease after the meal unless you want to spend hours with grease on your hands. Also, if the festival you are attending has regulations about food, it may be difficult to pass the festival bouncers while carrying the entire pie.
Corn Dogs
Corn dogs may be a good option if pizza is too messy for your liking. If you are American, you know what a corn dog is. For non-Americans, it may not be as obvious. A corn dog is a sausage or a hotdog coated with a generous layer of cornmeal batter and deep-fried.
This American street food has its origins in Texas with immigrant Germans. The original dog corn did not have a stick, but it was introduced later to ease handling the snack while eating. The corn dog is the best choice if staying clean at a festival is among your concerns.
You may be wondering why corn dogs but not ordinary hot dogs. As earlier mentioned, the stick on the corn dog makes it so easy to hold. The same can’t be said of a hotdog. The hot dog comes in pieces and is hard to hold, making it relatively easy to drop if you are focused on anything other than eating it.
Cereal Bars
Cereal bars have a bad reputation for being extra sugary. But sugar is only bad for couch potatoes. Sugar may be the very last thing they need for the active person. That is why cereal bars are a favorite snack for most people before hitting the gym. An outdoor festival can sometimes be more energy intensive than any workout session. So, having something to nibble on sometimes can be a good idea.
There are different variations of cereals, so you will find one that fits your taste. The main advantage of cereal bars is they are small enough to fit into your pockets if carrying a backpack is not your thing. Also, they are not messy, so you do not have to worry about soiling your clothes or other people.
Water
Water is often classified as a fourth food group after carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. It is also one of those things that you can’t live without. According to scientists, you could go for weeks without food if you have water. If water is taken out of the picture, you may have an average of three days to live.
Under normal circumstances, you would need to drink approximately two liters of water daily. If you are attending a concert during the daytime, you could lose water fast, so you may want to go beyond the amount of your water intake to ensure that you do not get dehydrated while at the concert.
The best way of determining if you have sufficient water is by looking at the color of your pee. If it looks colorless to light yellow, you are well hydrated. If it is dark yellow or amber, it indicates that you are not well hydrated.
The best way to ensure that you stay hydrated is to carry a hydration pack that holds more water than you can exhaust in a day.
If you do not like drinking water, you can go for flavored sports water instead, which serves the purpose of rehydrating and giving you an energy boost.
Alcohol
The relationship between alcohol and most festival lovers is for better or worse. If you are in this group, nothing beats being tipsy, dancing to the music you love, and in the company of people you love.
The best thing about alcohol is it removes every inhibition, so if you have two left feet and wouldn’t dare dance at a festival, being a little tipsy can help you enjoy everything about the festival without the fear of feeling awkward.
However, you must go slowly on alcohol if you want a good time. Too much of it can ruin what was supposed to be a good time. Almost every person has a story about how alcohol ruined a good day, either because they got drunk and misbehaved or one of their companions did.
The best approach to alcohol intake at an outdoor concert is keeping it below your average drinks in a more relaxed setting.
Concerts present countless situations that could turn aggressive, so you do not want to be in a state that can cloud your judgment.
If you do not know your limit, alternating one serving of an alcoholic drink with a similar serving of water ensures that your body has enough time to break down the alcohol before getting another drink.
Consider Alternatives for Beer and Hard Liquor
Outdoor concerts and events are among the best occasions for a malternative beverage for people who wouldn’t prefer beer or hard liquors. A malternative beverage has malt as an ingredient but does not contain hops, the ingredient that gives beer its characteristic bitter taste. These drinks are usually ready to drink and have a sweet taste.
Also, they have relatively low alcohol content, making hard liquor the best alternative for people who do not like beer taste. However, do not let the sweet taste of some alternatives fool you into thinking they are not intoxicating. So you may still want to ensure that you take them slowly while alternating with water.
Also, you may consider nonalcoholic drinks if you are in the company of people that do not drink. For example, if you have a designated driver with you at the concert, you would still want them to feel part of the fun while avoiding alcohol, so some nonalcoholic drinks that taste like alcohol can be a good choice.
Shaved Ice
If you are looking for a treat that can help you cool off at a concert, you can never go wrong with shaved ice, a frozen sweet dessert with origins in Hawaii. As its name suggests, it is made by shaving ice, putting it in a cup, and then topping it with sweet syrup. If you are from mainland America, you probably know it as a snow cone. Some may argue that the two have huge differences, but they are more similar than different.
The only difference is that shaved ice is made from thin slices, whereas snow cones are made from crushed ice. You will appreciate the cooling effect of shaved ice better if the concert is on a relatively hot day.
The only disadvantage of shaved ice is that you can’t keep it for a long time because it will eventually melt and warm up, losing its appeal. If you find a shaved ice truck at the festival venue, you may be lucky because you can grab it anytime.
Energy Drinks
Concerts are usually very energy intensive. While you could snack up to replenish your energy, it would take much longer to break your snack down into usable energy. So you may want to have some energy drink to give you that kick of energy when you need it.
Besides boosting your energy, energy drinks improve mood and attitude. This ability to eliminate poor moods can help ensure you enjoy every minute of the concert, especially if you are not into alcohol.
If you are worried about calorie intake for energy drinks, you can go for a zero-calorie option that depends on a high vitamin B concentration to boost energy.
While you may not get intoxicated by drinking energy drinks, too much of them can cause caffeine overdose, leading to complications, including heart problems. The best approach would be to have one drink or at least two for a day.
Canned Foods
Not all festivals are a few hours long. Some can run for the whole week. So you may need more than a quick fix, and that is where canned foods come in handy. The best thing about canned foods is that they can stay fresh longer as long as you do not open the cans.
Also, you do not have to worry about spillage as you travel. You can find a tinned version of virtually any food, from meats to cereals, cereals, and fruits. Tinned foods are ready to eat. Unless you want to eat them hot, you do not need a stove or microwave.
Candy
If you feel like you can make it through a festival without the need to eat, you can at least buy some candy and throw them in your backpack just in case your body runs low on energy. When choosing candy, you must ensure that you go for a type that does not melt in the sun, like chocolate-based candy.
The best thing with candy is that they come in all colors, shapes, and flavors, so you can be sure that you will find a type that will satisfy your taste buds. If you tag your kids along, candy can be an excellent way of ensuring they stay energized all day long.
Even if you are healthy food conscious, sweets for a day or two may not cause any damage.
Regular Meals
If you are attending a relaxed kind of family concert, you may feel like you want to eat a regular meal with your family. Nothing should stop you from enjoying your regular meals as long as the concert rules allow it.
If you choose this route, you cannot limit the food you can enjoy. However, you may need to move to a spacious place if you want to take the meal to avoid making a mess.