30 Healthy Game Day Food Ideas & Recipes (2024)

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Last Updated on February 7, 2024

I’m excited to share my healthy football food recipes and game day snack ideas with you!

The food and drinks served at football parties typically include cheesy, fried foods, burgers, booze, wings, pizza, chips,dairy-based dips, pretzels, processed sugars, etc.

All of that saturated fat, sodium, dairy, gluten, and sugar isn’t ideal. These foods lack nutrients but are high in processed carbs, fats, and sugar. Plus, game day foods VERY inflammatory and negatively impact immunity, hormones, and digestion. Combining fats, carbs, and sugars with inflammation literally programs the body to gain weight to store fat and feel fatigued, and bloated, and cause cravings for more.

  • Have you ever been to a football party get-together that didn’t include eating or drinking? Nope, probably not.
  • Have you ever indulged on game-day goodies that left you feeling bloated, blah, hungover, or feeling guilty because you ‘knew better’ but ate the unhealthy stuff anyway?
  • Have you ever felt left out at parties because there weren’t healthy options for you to eat or drink?


I know I have!

Once upon a time, I used to struggle at parties and get-togethers. It’s not fun to feel left out, chewing on a celery stick when everyone else indulges, either.

It was hard for me to enjoy the game when everyone else was eating foods that I was trying to avoid. I felt left out and found it triggering. If you can relate, it doesn’t have to be this way.

That’s why I’m sharing 30 Healthy Game Day Snacks & Recipes with you. They’re great for football parties and fitness & health, too.

30 Healthy Football Food & Game Day Snacks

The following dishes, snacks, dips, and ideas are my go-to recipes for game day. They’ll help you indulge without deprivation.

Try these the next time you’re watching a game, invited to a football party, or hosting to have healthy options that don’t taste like rabbit food.

They’re packed with protein and fiber and will help you feel fuller faster and won’t cause huge spikes in blood sugar, which makes it easy to stay on track & avoid overeating. Plus, protein and fiber are the best foods for fat loss and boosting metabolism.

The best part? These game day snacks are easy to make, are healthy, and everyone loves them. I think you will, too.

After taking a look at all the options, leave me a comment and let me know which idea you’re most excited about.

HEALTHY FOOTBALL SNACK IDEAS

  • Healthy Deviled Eggs – use these recipes + green onion to turn them into mini footballs for extra fun
  • Healthy Shrimp Ceviche
  • Healthy Kabobs
  • Healthy Jalapeño Poppers
  • Stuffed Peppers You can carve footballs in the pepper shells before stuffing and baking, to make them extra cute 🏈
  • Cowboy Caviar Bean Salad

MORE HEALTHY GAME DAY SNACKS

Some super easy, plant-based snacks that are also fan favorites include:

  • Roasted Chickpeas
  • Gluten-free, whole grain crackers and pretzels
  • Organic popcorn
  • Veggie Chips
  • Mixed Nuts
  • A Fruit and/or vegetable tray with a healthy dip like hummus

HEALTHY DIPS FOR FOOTBALL PARTIES

Swap your cheesy dips, ranch, and blue cheese dressings for these healthy, plant-based dips instead. They’re easy to make. But if you don’t like cooking, I recommend buying the organic versions of these dips pre-made from your grocery store, too.

  • Pico-di-gallo
  • Salsa
  • Bruschetta
  • Healthy Vegan Cheese
  • Hummus
  • Babaganoush – This tasty dip is ‘low-carb hummus’ that’s made with eggplant instead of chickpeas
  • Tahini – This is sesame seed butter used to make hummus and babaganoush
  • Healthy Homemade Mayonnaise
  • Pesto
  • Organic, Dairy-free Salad Dressings and Vinaigrettes are great, too

MORE HEALTHY GAME DAY APPETIZERS

You can also have traditional game day foods that you normally see at football parties. To make them healthier add in more plants and opt for organic options.

  • Organic, Gluten-free pizza or Cauliflower Crust Pizza – You can buy these in the frozen section of your grocery store and you can’t tell the difference
  • Chili or a Hearty Soup – I love this Healthy Chicken Soup
  • Organic Rotisserie Chicken
  • Turkey Meatballs – Make these the same way you would with beef but sub in turkey instead of beef
  • Fish Tacos – Shrimp, turkey, and chicken work, too. Sub in cilantro, salsa, grilled veggies, and fresh lime juice instead of cheese and sour cream
  • Lettuce Wraps – Tip: Wrap my healthy shrimp ceviche in lettuce leaves and drizzle with hot sauce. It’s so good!
  • Baked Chicken Wings – Bake, grill, or air fry your wings instead of frying them in oil to save yourself hundreds of calories and avoid inflammatory fats.
  • Cocktail Shrimp and Cocktail Sauce – Buy a bag or 2 of pre-cooked frozen, wild-caught shrimp. Rinse, thaw, and serve chilled alongside homemade cocktail sauce made with organic ketchup and horseradish to taste. Easy breezy!

So there you have it.

Leave me a comment and let me know which snack idea is your favorite.

If there’s a healthy recipe you like to enjoy on game day that isn’t on my list, please share it in the comments.

Your Coach and Biggest Cheerleader

xxoo

30 Healthy Game Day Food Ideas & Recipes (6)

Pin these Game Day Food Ideas to Pinterest so you’ll have them forever.

30 Healthy Game Day Food Ideas & Recipes (7)

If you liked this post you’ll love my other healthy recipes, too.

P.S. If you do, indulge on game day and feel bloated, blah, or hungover, my Reset Cleanse will help you reverse the damage, feel better, and lose weight quickly. You can lose up to 10 pounds in 7 days.

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30 Healthy Game Day Food Ideas & Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best food for game? ›

Salty snacks like pretzels and crackers are a great choice. So are yogurts, cereal bars or fresh fruits. Apples are some of my favorites: not only are apples a great source of natural sugar and delicious with peanut butter, their skin is full of energizing vitamins and minerals.

What are high protein foods for football players? ›

Aim to try and eat chicken or turkey rather than darker meets whilst making sure that you remove any skin or visible fat. Eat a minimum of 2 portions per week of oily fish such as salmon and mackerel as these provide omega 3 fatty acids as well as lean protein. Choose low fat cheeses such as cottage cheese.

What are the healthy snacks for trivia night? ›

Ideas: cereal pieces, nuts and seeds, pretzels, small crackers, dehydrated veggies, dried fruit, chocolate chips, and random candy leftover from holidays (hello, candy corn and jelly beans!).

What food is best for gaming? ›

Protein-rich foods are among the best snacks for gaming since they offer prolonged energy. Protein takes longer to digest than other nutrients, meaning that it provides a slow and steady stream of energy to the body. This is important if you want your snacks for gaming to tide you over for hours on end.

What is game food wise? ›

game, in gastronomy, the flesh of any wild animal or bird.

What food gives you energy for football? ›

It's important to eat both before and after football. Before playing, consume foods that provide energy and nutrients, like whole grain cereals, bananas, whole grain toast, baked beans, eggs, lean fish, pasta, and rice. These meal options offer essential carbohydrates, protein, and other nutrients to fuel your body.

What is good nutrition food for football players? ›

Choosing a variety of whole grain breads, pasta, rice, potatoes, fruits and vegetables ensures players are getting not only the carbs necessary to perform but also essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, which have a slew of important functions. In particular, these help to decrease inflammation and support recovery.

What do NFL players eat for lunch? ›

While an NFL player's lunch might include foods such as:
  • Chicken breast.
  • Quinoa.
  • Broccoli.
  • Sweet potatoes.
  • Avocado.
  • Pasta.
  • Lean meat.
  • Eggs.

What is a super healthy snack? ›

Examples of 6 healthy snacks include hummus, cheese, crackers with fruit, canned fish, avocado, and popcorn.

What is the best food for hunting? ›

10 Snacks For Your Hunt
  • Beef Jerky. Beef jerky is a great companion for the outdoorsman. ...
  • Granola Bars. Granola bars are your one-stop shop for essentials your body needs while hunting. ...
  • Nuts. ...
  • Nut Butters. ...
  • Freeze-Dried Meals. ...
  • Instant Coffee. ...
  • Trail Mix. ...
  • Summer Sausage.
Aug 15, 2022

What food is best before a game? ›

Nutritionists recommend a bigger meal with plenty of fluids like water for what to eat before a game. Your plate should be about half starches, a quarter protein, and a quarter non-starch vegetables. Pasta, rice, potatoes, grilled chicken, sandwiches, pork chops, green beans, and asparagus are all great options.

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