50 Healthy Game Day Recipes

50 Healthy Game Day Recipes: Lighten things up for football season! A collection of healthier recipes and menus to balance out your game day spread.

If you didn’t already know, we are a big college football family – Gator football to be exact. Both my husband and I attended University of Florida and worked together during some of the most memorable and fun years of our lives. I love being able to reminisce with him about college days. 🙂

Football season starts this weekend and for fans of the game it’s like Christmas has arrived. I love to watch Gator games with family and friends, but I like eating and drinking during the games even more. I’m sure most of you feel the same. It’s fun to put together a spread – whether just for 2 people or a crowd – and I really do try to keep things balanced and on the lighter side during football season. Those calories (beer!) add up quick, especially when it’s a weekly event.

Here are a few Healthy Game Day Recipes and Ideas to help you put together a lighter – slightly healthier – spread for your football season!

Go Gators!

Have a Fiesta:

Whenever I think of having a get together, I always start dreaming up a Mexican inspired menu for some reason. Mexican food just screams (football) Fiesta right? Lucky enough, Mexican food is one of the best categories of food to lighten up – you just have to control the tortilla chip consumption (weakness!).

Healthy Tip: try baked tortilla chips and sliced jicama “chips” for dipping and fill up on lean protein, beans & veggies if you are serving quesadillas or tacos (use corn tortillas or whole wheat tortillas for a little more nutrition).

Healthy Tip: a little cheese goes a long way if you are really watching calories, try shredding it by hand from a block if you are using it for melting purposes – I always think it melts better that way and you can use way less.

5-Ingredient Chicken Guacamole Taquitos | Gimme Some Oven

Half Smashed Drunken Refried Beans | Aggie’s Kitchen

Heidi’s Pineapple Salsa | Aggie’s Kitchen

Grilled Garlic Lime Flank Steak for Tacos or Fajitas | Mom To Mom Nutrition

5 Ingredient Blender Salsa | Tried & Tasty

Roatsted Tomatillo Salsa | Aggie’s Kitchen

Oven Baked Black Bean & Cheese Quesadillas | Aggie’s Kitchen

Mexican Slaw Dip | Reluctant Entertainer

Tomato Avocado Salsa | A Zesty Bite

Skinny Taco Dip | Skinnytaste

Mango Avocado Black Bean Salsa | Aggie’s Kitchen

Small Bites:

I think finger food and small bites are some of everyone’s favorites, wouldn’t you agree? Especially during a game that lasts a few hours. Bite sized food is forced portion control, and gives you a chance to try a variety without a huge commitment. I’ll take a plate of healthy small bites any day.

Spinach and Feta Quinoa Bites | Aggie’s Kitchen

Baked BBQ Cheddar Chicken Bites | Aggie’s Kitchen

Jalaepeno Cheddar Sweet Potato Puffs | The Lean Green Bean

Buffalo Chicken Hummus Roll Ups | A Cedar Spoon

Mediterranean Stuffed Mushrooms | Aggie’s Kitchen

Hummus and Cucumber Bites | Kalyn’s Kitchen

Ham and Dill Pickle Bites | Kalyn’s Kitchen

Mini Ham & Cheese Quinoa Cups | Iowa Girl Eats

Light Sweet Potato Skins with Bacon and Goat Cheese | Cookin’ Canuck

Curried Deviled Eggs | Well Plated

Baked Cauli-Tots | Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Get Dippy:

I don’t know about you, but if I love a good dip to go along with veggies. I like to keep my veggie plates interesting, so I like to include veggies of all kinds (in addition to the typical celery and carrot sticks) like sliced cucumbers, red pepper strips, radishes, jicama and sugar snap peas. Now doesn’t that sound like a fun party filled plate of veggies? You’ll be amazed at how many veggies will get eaten off a plate filled with all that color and variety (great for kids and adults!).

Healthy Tip: whole grain triscuit thins or homemade baked pita chips are a great healthier alternative to chips if you are craving a salty crunchy dipper (I always am).

Kalamata Olive and Feta Dip with Baked Lemon Pepper Pita Chips | Aggie’s Kitchen

Cucumber and Feta Greek Yogurt Dip |Aggie’s Kitchen

Curry Dill Dip | Recipe Girl

Layered Greek Hummus Dip |Aggie’s Kitchen

Roasted Garlic Bean Dip | The Lemon Bowl

Spicy Red Pepper Feta Dip | The Lean Green Bean

Edamame Dip | Aggie’s Kitchen

Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip | Skinnytaste

Hot Black Bean Fiesta Dip | Aggie’s Kitchen

Bring on the Food:

Depending on the time of day your game is on, it’s always nice to have a few easy options for “real food”, especially if you are having some beers with your game.

Healthy Tip: Chicken wings are a traditional football favorite so try baking them instead of frying or throw some lean pork tenderloin in the crockpot and put together easy barbecue pulled pork sliders.

Healthy Tip:  a pot of chili is always a great filling option too, make it healthier by choosing leaner protein like ground turkey or chicken and bulking it up with extra beans and veggies.

Barbecue Ranch Chicken Salad Sliders | Aggie’s Kitchen

Baked Chicken Wings with Honey Chipotle Glaze | The Lemon Bowl

Autumn Rotisserie Chicken Salad with Almonds and Apples | Aggie’s Kitchen

Roasted Old Bay Shrimp | Jeanette’s Healthy Living

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Melts | Aggie’s Kitchen

Skinny Pulled Pork Sliders with Red Cabbage & Avocado | Joyful Healthy Eats

Turkey Sandwich Kebabs | Reluctant Entertainer

Red Chicken and Two Bean Chili | Aggie’s Kitchen

Cilantro Lime Roasted Shrimp with Tomatillo Sauce | Joyful Healthy Eats

Vegetarian Pesto & Olive Pizza Roll Ups | Cookin’ Canuck

Pineapple Jerk Chicken Tacos | Well Plated

Vegetarian Zucchini Corn Chili | Reluctant Entertainer

Something Sweet:

Healthy desserts are tricky…which is why I tend to stick with a nice fruit plate with a yogurt dip or a good chocolate chip cookie or oat bar. I don’t have a huge sweet tooth so this is not a category I spend too much worrying about, but it’s nice to have options!

Frozen Chocolate Fruit Kabobs | Healthy Aperture

Watermelon Dippers with Honey Vanilla Yogurt Sauce | Mom To Mom Nutrition

Peanut Butter Honey Yogurt Dip | Two Peas and Their Pod

Clean Eating No Bake Peanut Butter Bars | iFoodreal

Easy Yogurt Fruit Dip | Aggie’s Kitchen

Whole Wheat Strawberry Oat Bars | Cookin’ Canuck

Flourless Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies | Ambitious Kitchen

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