16 Healthy Game Day Snacks — Perfect for Any Party or Tailgate

It’s easy to eat your weight in chips and guac — and pizza, and wings, and improbable concoctions of cheese, mayonnaise, and bacon — while watching football.

We won’t tell you how many calories are in a piece of fried chicken and a vat of french onion dip. You already know that it’s a lot.

That kind of overindulgence in calories and saturated fat can sideline your fitness goals. And the binge is more likely to carry over into the following day if your team is not victorious.

But eating healthy on game day doesn’t have to mean scrounging for a few bare celery sticks from the buffalo chicken platter. You can bring the winning football snack to the party, or crush the tailgate with something everyone actually wants to eat.

We put together a list of truly tempting, healthy football party snacks that are everything you’d expect to eat while watching football. You’ll find whole-food versions of nachos, queso, sliders, and appetizers that can be made in a crock pot or thrown on a grill for perfect tailgate snacks. There are even a couple of treats for your post-game sweet-tooth.

Healthy Football Snacks

1. Go-To Guacamole from the Minimalist Baker

One of the easiest football snacks to make also happens to be everyone’s favorite. Guacamole, FTW. Serve with baked corn tortilla chips and bell pepper slices.

2. Spicy Cauliflower Nachos from Evergreen Kitchen

Once you’ve tried these nachos made with spiced cauliflower instead of tortilla chips, you will never want to go back. It’s amazing that they taste even better this way.

3. Baked Garlic Sweet Potato Fries from Damn Delicious

Garlic and Parmesan cheese make these baked sweet potato fries taste more indulgent than they actually are, while packing a hefty nutrition punch of vitamin A, potassium and fiber.

4. Spicy Korean Cauliflower Wings from Went Here 8 This

These finger-licking good cauliflower “wings” may not be traditional football party fare — yet — but we can all agree that they should be. Yum.

5. Jicama Lime Sticks

Raw veggie sticks at a football viewing party? Been there, done that. Kick it up a notch with crunchy jicama sticks drizzled with lime juice and chili powder. Also try this with thick cucumber slices!

6. Buffalo Chicken Meatballs from SkinnyTaste

Buh-bye, greasy buffalo wings. From now on, it’s all about these baked chicken meatballs topped with buffalo sauce and a Greek yogurt blue cheese sauce. Make these even healthier by using whole wheat panko crumbs.

7. Jackfruit Sliders from Love and Lemons

The creator of this recipe calls them “meaty, juicy, smoky, a little spicy… and a total mess to eat.” That sounds just right for game night. Choose a whole grain option for your bun and look for ketchup with little to no added sugar. Annie’s Naturals and Simply Heinz Tomato are two great options.

8. Cowboy Caviar from The Kitchn

No cooking is needed to whip up this party favorite that doubles as a side dish and a dip.

9. Apple and Nut Butter, and Popcorn

Keep it clean and simple with a bowl of air-popped popcorn (season with spices like turmeric, garlic powder, cinnamon, or dried herbs) and apple slices dipped in nut butter.

10. Zucchini Brownies from Ambitious Kitchen

Don’t let the name fool you. You can go ahead and call these ooey-gooey, gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly chocolate bombs “brownies” and no one will be the wiser.