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 WrapsTip: 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.
  • co*cktail Shrimp and co*cktail Sauce – Buy a bag or 2 of pre-cooked frozen, wild-caught shrimp. Rinse, thaw, and serve chilled alongside homemade co*cktail 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 are healthy everyday meals? ›

10 Simple Dinner Ideas for Healthy Eating in Real Life
  • Stuffed sweet potatoes. Sweet potatoes are loaded with beneficial nutrients like beta carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and fiber ( 1 ). ...
  • Grain bowls. ...
  • Veggie loaded frittatas. ...
  • Dinner salad. ...
  • Loaded brown rice pasta. ...
  • One-pot soups. ...
  • Curry. ...
  • Burgers.
Jun 30, 2021

What should you eat before a game? ›

Athletes should eat a balanced meal containing carbohydrates, protein, and fruit or vegetables 2-3 hours before game time. Make sure to drink 12-24 ounces of water with a pre-game meal to stay hydrated. Pre-game meals may include: Whole wheat chicken sandwich with vegetables.

What are the top 10 healthiest dinners? ›

Top 10 healthy family meals
  • Healthy tomato soup. ...
  • Sausage & white bean casserole. ...
  • Squash & pesto pasta. ...
  • Double bean & roasted red pepper chilli.
  • Salmon pesto traybake with baby roast potatoes. ...
  • Lighter spaghetti & meatballs. ...
  • Chicken & veg bowl. ...
  • Sesame & spring onion stir-fried udon with crispy tofu.
Mar 20, 2019

What not to eat on game day? ›

Junk food and high-fat foods take a long time to digest and will only slow you down, make you feel sluggish, or cause stomach problems mid-competition. Stay away from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains this close to the game.

What are the best carbs to eat before a game? ›

“Low-fiber carbohydrates like pretzels, saltines, and bagels are great choices to top off energy with less than 30 minutes to go before a game,” says Turner.

What not to eat the night before a game? ›

Anything too fatty, like junk food or milk, is digested slowly and will make athletes feel slow and sluggish. Athletes should also avoid eating too many high-fiber foods, like beans, fruits and vegetables, which are also difficult to digest and cause stomach problems on the field.

What are the 10 healthiest foods to eat everyday? ›

10 great health foods
  • Almonds. Nuts eaten whole are considered a protein, in the same category as seeds, meats and eggs. ...
  • Apples. Most people could use more fruit in their daily diet, according to surveys. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Broccoli. ...
  • Salmon. ...
  • Sweet potatoes. ...
  • Wheat germ.
Mar 28, 2024

What are the 5 daily meals? ›

Five meals a day equals breakfast, lunch, dinner, and two snacks. To do this right, you need to plan what you'll eat every day for each “meal.” And you need to schedule eating every 2 to 3 hours.

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