Fall means back to school, pumpkin everything, apple orchards and football. It also means those weekend game day parties are BACK and so are all of the great game day foods like wings, chili, and chips and dip. I love game day food but I don’t always love all of the processed, high sugar or high fat ingredients that many of them are often full of. Looking for a way to make game day food a little healthier? So were we. Here’s our list of Healthier Game Day Food! Just in time for the weekend.
Honey Harissa Chicken Wings
It wouldn’t be game day without wings, right? Most wings are fried and then doused in sauce and (sometimes) fried again! Our Honey Harissa Chicken Wings are baked – using a few tricks to get them crispy with less fat – and then tossed in a gorgeous spicy and smokey sauce made from harissa paste and some honey. Make a double batch and thank me later.
Chili
Chili is another game day staple, especially on those cooler fall days. We up the nutritional ante in our Chipotle Stout Chili by using three types of beans for tons of fiber and bulking up the chili with bell peppers and carrots. A touch of Guinness give the chili a great depth of flavor. I like to serve it with some cornbread. And for your vegetarian guests (or just people who love veggies!) definitely make up a batch of our Easy Vegetarian Chili. It’s got a great spicy punch and is absolutely loaded with veggies.
Jalapeno Cheddar Cornbread
Where there is chili, there is cornbread. And while I’m definitely not above using a mix (or just buying some!), our Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread uses greek yogurt for extra protein and has a hint of jalapeño for flavor without too much heat. Studded with sharp cheddar, this bread bakes up in a skillet for a golden crust that is perfect for dipping into chili!
Buffalo Cauliflower Wings with Healthy Blue Cheese Sauce
While I’m happily in camp omnivore now, I spent quite a few years as a vegetarian and I would have LOVED some of these Buffalo Cauliflower Wings from Fit Foodie Finds for game day celebrations. They are baked, and gluten/dairy free as well. I’ll be making a double batch this weekend!
Veggies and Dips
You really can’t go wrong with a giant veggie platter and an assortment of things for dipping. While I’m always a fan of a classic hummus, why not try a little Baba Ganoush or Lemon Rosemary White Bean Dip?
Chips and Queso
Healthy eating is all about balance, if you ask me. And I like to balance some indulgence (like some chips) with a healthier version of a classic, like queso. This 5 Minute Vegan Cashew Queso is so delicious, you won’t miss the jarred stuff. Serve it along side some of our easy salsa and a big bag of tortilla strip chips and your friends will be happy well into the 4th quarter.
Sweet Treats
Finish off the game day spread with some sweet treats that everyone will love. To keep things a little lighter, I love to slice up some apples and berries to serve with our Creamy Vanilla Fruit Dip. Need a bit of chocolate? Why not try these Healthier Cookie Dough Balls. Make them ahead and freeze them so all you have to do before the big game is pull them out of the freezer and toss them in a bowl. These No Bake Carrot Cake Bites are a similar, easy option.
What are your favorite game day foods? We’d love to try them! Share with us in the comments, on our social channels, or via email. Thanks for reading. And Go Pats!
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