With football officially back this weekend, game day watch parties are in full swing ... which usually means one thing: tables loaded with greasy, high-calorie snacks.
But if you’re working on your fitness goals (or just trying not to derail all your progress), this can be one of the hardest times to stay on track.
That’s why I’ve put together a lineup of healthy, low-calorie, and delicious game day recipes that are perfect for football season.
Protein Cookie Dough Bites (12 bites)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 scoop vanilla protein powder
-1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 tbsp sugar-free maple syrup
- 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions:
- Mix all ingredients into dough.
- Roll into 12 balls.
Chill before serving.
Macros (per bite): 95 cal | 6g protein | 7g carbs | 5g fat
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sliders (12 sliders)
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken breast
- 1 cup low-sugar BBQ sauce
- 12 slider buns
- 6 slices reduced-fat cheddar (optional)
- Pickles for topping
Instructions:
- Slow cook chicken + BBQ sauce on low 6 hrs, shred.
- Serve on slider buns with cheese and pickle.
Macros (per slider): 190 cal | 18g protein | 20g carbs | 4g fat
Protein Peanut Butter Cups (12 cups)
Ingredients:
- 1 cup dark chocolate chips (or sugar-free chocolate)
- 1/2 cup powdered peanut butter
- 1 scoop vanilla whey protein
- 3 tbsp almond milk
Instructions:
- Melt chocolate. Mix PB powder, protein, and almond milk into a paste.
- Layer chocolate → filling → chocolate in muffin liners.
- Freeze until firm.
Macros (per cup): 120 cal | 9g protein | 10g carbs | 6g fat
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (20 meatballs)
Ingredients:
- 1 lb lean ground chicken (93/7)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (or almond flour for lower carb)
- 1/4 cup buffalo sauce
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Mix all ingredients, form into 20 meatballs.
- Bake 18–20 min until cooked through.
- Toss in more buffalo sauce before serving.
Macros (per meatball): 80 cal | 9g protein | 2g carbs | 4g fat