Recipes and Cooking Healthy Recipes Healthy Snack Recipes 17 Healthy Game-Day Snacks that Are a Guaranteed Touchdown By Sheena Chihak, RD Sheena Chihak, RD Instagram Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 15 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Updated on May 3, 2023 Reviewed by Julie Lopez, RD Fact checked by Emily Estep Fact checked by Emily Estep Emily Estep is a plant biologist and journalist who has worked for a variety of online news and media outlets, writing about and editing topics that range from film and beauty to science and the automobile industry. Her plant biology degree has a focus on sustainable agriculture, and she's an expert on growing your own food, environmental sciences, and all topics relating to houseplants. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: BHG / Ana Cadena We know you're munching during your football party (we are, too), so serve some healthy game-day snacks as part of your menu to avoid that over-stuffed feeling. These recipes are as tasty as the not-so-healthy traditional versions but with a nutritional boost. Each of these healthy football snacks has fewer than 200 calories per serving. We also kept an eye on limiting sodium and gave bonus points for protein and fiber. 01 of 17 Air-Fryer Jalapeño Poppers View Recipe Caitlin Bensel An air fryer is the perfect appliance for all kinds of healthy game-day snacks. One taste of these poppers is all the proof you need. Two kinds of cheese plus chicken for protein combine with green onion, dill, and hot pepper sauce for a hearty filling. Whole wheat panko and a few minutes in your air fryer create the crispy exterior. Go ahead and double the recipe if you're serving a crowd; keep the first batch warm in the oven while you fry the second. 02 of 17 Italian Parmesan Pretzels View Recipe Jacob Fox Make your favorite mall snack into homemade game-day food by rolling and folding bread dough into individual pretzel shapes. Pop 'em in the oven, then brush them with buttery garlic and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. 03 of 17 Buffalo Cauliflower Bites View Recipe Devon O'brien Better than buffalo wings? You'll have to try these buffalo cauliflower bites for yourself to see what you think. After being baked twice in a mix of spices and hot sauce, these bites are plenty crispy and have a fiery flavor that keeps you coming back for more. And you can indulge in these guilt-free, unlike most buffalo wings recipes. 04 of 17 Pizza Lettuce Wraps View Recipe Blaine Moats Extinguish the hunger of your game-day guests with this fast and fresh spin on pizza. Crisp lettuce leaves stand in for the crust, while cherry tomatoes, cannellini beans, and turkey pepperoni provide the flavors of classic pizza toppings without all the calories. 05 of 17 Sweet Potato Fries View Recipe Karla Conrad If oven-baked sweet potato fries aren't on your list for game-day food, it's time to reevaluate. Using sweet potatoes versus usual potatoes adds more healthy vitamins and nutrients, and, obviously, baking instead of frying eliminates the excess calories from fat. They also require only five ingredients, most of which you already have in your kitchen. 06 of 17 No-Bake Peanut-Apple Balls View Recipe Blaine Moats No time to prepare before the big game? No problem. These easy, apple-flavor appetizers require just five pantry ingredients and a quick chill in the refrigerator. They're a great quick recipe to add to your list of healthy game-day snacks! Test Kitchen Tip: Wet your hands to make these sticky peanut butter treats easier to handle. 07 of 17 Triple-Pepper Nachos View Recipe Jason Donnelly Your party guests will be reaching for more of these crispy corn nachos. We've covered this healthy game-day food in slightly healthier versions of all your favorite fixings: reduced-fat melted cheese, chunky salsa, peppers, and black beans for protein and fiber. 08 of 17 Avocado-Stuffed Mushrooms View Recipe Andy Lyons No spread of healthy football snacks should be without a stuffed-mushroom recipe. This one uses unexpected hazelnuts and avocado in the filling for healthy fats that will keep you full from kickoff until (at least) halftime. 09 of 17 Spinach-Parmesan Dip View Recipe Andy Lyons Kick off game day with a classic fan favorite: spinach dip. Bake artichoke hearts, onions, and spinach until tender, then stir in the works: sour cream, gooey cheese, and lemon juice for tang. Be sure to make two batches; this healthy football appetizer will go quick! 10 of 17 Air-Fryer Pickle Chips View Recipe Matthew Clark We've never met a pickle chip we could pass up, but this sriracha-spiced version is downright irresistible. And because the pickles are air fried, there's no shame in lining up for seconds. With this healthy game-day food in your lineup, everyone at your party wins. 11 of 17 Spiced Apricots in Dark Chocolate View Recipe Jason Donnelly Chocolate craving kicking in? Instead of reaching for a candy bar, sub in healthy game-day snacks. Dip dried apricots in rich dark chocolate, then sprinkle with ground chipotle chile pepper for a low-calorie, guilt-free snack. 12 of 17 Mango Pico de Gallo View Recipe Blaine Moats Fellow fans will love this gluten-free fruit salsa. It's low in fat and bursting with vitamin C. Add a pinch of cumin for sharp Mexican flavor in this healthy game-day snack. 13 of 17 Strawberry Margarita Cheesecake Minis View Recipe Karla Conrad Sink your teeth into tiny bites of strawberry and lime. And you might want to make a double batch; these rich and creamy low-cal treats might be gone before halftime! 14 of 17 Mango-Habanero Pulled Chicken Bites View Recipe Mango-Habanero Pulled Chicken Bites. Jason Donnelly Touchdowns aren't the only thing that will get you fired up on game day. Habanero peppers, featured in these sweet-and-spicy mango chicken bites, add a hint of heat and some extra excitement to your spread. 15 of 17 Air-Fried Brussels Sprouts View Recipe Dera Burreson, Ryan Krull Air frying Brussels sprouts may be our new favorite way to cook them. (Though we love roasted Brussels sprouts too.) We get all the crispy pieces we love from frying for way less fat and calories. In more good-for-you news, each serving of this healthy football snack has four grams each of fiber and protein. 16 of 17 Confetti Peanut Butter Munchies View Recipe Kritsada Panichgul Add even more flavor to your puppy chow with bits of dried mango, pineapple, and other delicious fruits. Pretzels coated in peanut butter and powdered sugar give crunch to this fan favorite. 17 of 17 Cranberry-Sauced Meatballs View Recipe Scott Little Add some substance to your healthy game-day food table with these delicious chicken or turkey meatballs. The meatballs get their snappy taste from cranberry-flavor barbecue sauce. 20+ Meatball Ideas Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit