Watching sports together can be a great way to bond with friends and loved ones. It can be a fun tradition to head to the game, sharing in the celebrations during victories and comforting each other during losses.

Whether watching at home, in front of the TV, or in person at the stadium, snacks are a great accompaniment to go with any sport. They can become part of the ritual, adding to the experience by tantalising our senses.

Food is just as important part of the experience as wearing our team’s jersey, placing bets through sites like Paddy Power, or singing and chanting with other fans.

So if you want some great inspiration for some game-day snacks, here are some of the best options.

Nachos

Everyone loves nachos. The dish that’s loved by people across the world started out in Texas, where refried beans, cheese, and jalapenos topped each individual tortilla chip. Over time, they’ve become a blank canvas for people to add whatever they like to them though, with everything from lobster to dessert nachos topped with fruit and chocolate.

This versatility, combined with them being ideal for sharing and the fact that they can be eaten with your hands, makes nachos great for munching while watching the game.

If you want to make your nachos a bit fancier, consider making a “nacho party ring”, a giant plate of tortillas, topped with cheese, onions, beans, salsa, and jalapenos, arranged around the outside of a giant bowl of dip in a ring shape.

Or if you’re dealing with fussy eaters, why not make some individual nacho bowls where everyone gets to have their own favourite toppings.

Popcorn

Popcorn has been the unofficial snack of cinema-goers the world over for decades. Like nachos, popcorn provides a canvas to add a whole range of different toppings and flavours. Some like their popcorn coated in sweet flavours like toffee, chocolate or plain sugar, while others prefer them salted.

Plain popcorn is actually very healthy. It’s high in fibre and low in sugars and fats, although coating it in salt or sugar will negate much of these benefits. So if you’re looking for a healthy game-day snack that flies under the radar, popcorn is a great option. There’s also plenty of enjoyment to be had from making your own and watching the kernels pop in your pan or microwave.

If you want some healthier flavourings, try nutritional yeast for a cheesy umami taste or sprinkle some paprika on top to give it a bit of a kick.

Hummus & Veggies

A twist on the traditional chips and dip snack, hummus with veggies is a tasty snack that’s also healthy. If you want to throw in some carbs, a wholegrain flatbread or pita that’s been freshly toasted pairs perfectly with hummus.

Most supermarkets stock several types of this tasty mixture, from traditional plain versions to ones infused with tomatoes, peppers, or chillis. There’s also lower fat hummus, which some say tastes the same but others vehemently disagree with this.

What vegetables you choose to dip in your hummus is up to you. The most popular choice is sliced carrot, but celery, peppers, snap peas, tomatoes, cucumber, radish, and cauliflower are all great options too.

Chicken Wings

Chicken wings are another popular game-day snack, particularly in the sports bars of America. They’re tasty, can be eaten with just your hands, and offer the flexibility to add flavourings of your choice.

Sticky BBQ, sesame and teriyaki are all popular choices, but you could coat your wings in peri-peri, chilli, garlic and herbs, lemon, or honey and orange. Alternatively, you could keep them plain and sprinkle on a little salt and pepper to bring out the flavour of the chicken.

The only downside to chicken wings is that they can get a little messy, so it’s best to have some tissues or cloth on standby.

There are plenty of other options available too. As you can see from this list, the main criteria for good sports snacks are that they can be eaten with your hands, aside from this, it’s down to what you love most.

Contributed by Michelle Williams

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