Fall Football – 4 Healthy Game Day Recipes

Fall is officially here! As the leaves start to change, it reminds us of drinking hot cocoa, corn mazes, sitting by the fire, and above all,  football season. Although most of us won’t be able to catch a game from the bleachers this year, we can still enjoy game day from home. We’ve compiled a list of quick, healthy game day snacks for you and your loved ones to enjoy. 

How Can I Make Game Day Food Healthy? 

• Substitute, substitute, substitute! Even just replacing butter with vegan butter will make a healthy difference. Instead of reaching for another beer, try reaching for a hard seltzer or a hard kombucha.
• Incorporate more veggies into your spread. See below for our recipe for baked zucchini fries. 
• Drink lots of water. There are many benefits that drinking water brings. 
• You can still cut down on carbs while continuing to enjoy some of your favorite foods by simply turning them into bowls: burger bowls, burger casseroles, taco salad, and the list goes on.

So, Do Healthy Game Day Recipes Exist? Here Are a Few:

Game day food is hard to beat. We’ve compiled a few recipes that will surely make staying at home and watching the game more enjoyable. Each of these recipes are not just easy to make, but they are also a healthier alternative to stadium food (and just as tasty!). 

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients: 

• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
• ½ cup cheese of choice (recommended: blue cheese)
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (recommended: Frank’s)
• 1 cup nonfat greek yogurt 
• ½ cup small curd cottage cheese 
• 1 cup cheddar cheese. 

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350.
2. In a bowl, mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined.
3. Pour mixture into a glass 8×8 dish (top with extra cheese if desired) and bake at 350 for 25 mins.

Healthy tip: use celery instead of crackers for dipping.

Burger in a Bowl

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon dried oregano 
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder 
• ½ teaspoon paprika 
• 1 teaspoon salt 
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper 
• romaine lettuce
• any of your favorite burger toppings (onions, jalapenos, pickles, etc.)

Instructions: 

1. Heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and spices. Brown the beef, breaking it up as it cooks, until it is fully cooked through.
2. While the beef is browning, make your sauce of choice. Add all of the sauce ingredients to a bowl and mix/whisk together until combined. Add more salt and pepper to taste.
3. Assemble the bowls. Start with romaine lettuce and add the toppings and the cooked ground beef. Drizzle the sauce on top.

A Southern Classic, Frito Pie

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound lean ground beef 
• 2 15 oz. cans beans 
• 1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes
• 6-8 mini bags of Fritos 
• taco toppings (shredded cheese, green onions, jalapenos, cilantro, etc.) 

Instructions: 

1. In a large skillet, brown lean ground beef. Drain if necessary.
2. Pour in undrained cans of beans and cook over medium heat until heated thoroughly. Add the tomatoes. Stir
3.  Pour a generous portion of mixture into small bags of Fritos. Add toppings as desired. 

Baked Veggie Fries

Ingredients: 

• 2 vegetables (zucchini, sweet potato, carrots, etc.) 
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs 
• ½ cup grated parmesan cheese 
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder 
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
•  2 eggs

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 425. Cut vegetables of choice into fries and set aside. 
2. In a large bowl combine panko, parmesan, garlic powder, basil, salt, and pepper.
3. Whisk eggs in a bowl or dish. Dip the cut vegetables in eggs, coating evenly, and then toss in bread crumb mixture.
4. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway. Serve alone or with your favorite dipping sauce. 

Comment below if you try one of these recipes and share any additional healthy game day recipes you’ve made. Let’s make social distancing fun by celebrating touchdowns with the benefits of eating together at home! 

Interested in more food tips? We’ve covered fast, healthy breakfast ideas and tips for staying healthy during the holidays. Read our blog here or like our Facebook page to keep up with Hospitality Health ER’s healthcare and community discussions.