Football Food & Fall Flavors: 4 Dietitian-Approved Game-Day Upgrades
Fall brings football Saturdays, busy sports schedules, and pumpkin-flavored everything. Unfortunately, this season often means more added sugar and less fiber than we need. The good news is that you don’t have to miss out on the fun foods; you just need to make some smarter choices. Here are four healthy swaps I shared on Good Morning Texas.
1. Swap the Soda, Keep the Fizz: OLIPOP
A 12-ounce regular cola contains about 39 grams of added sugar, exceeding the American Heart Association’s daily limit of 25 grams for women and 36 grams for men. OLIPOP offers a healthier alternative with its fall lineup, featuring new flavors like Caramel Apple and limited-edition Pomegranate Sparkle, which have only 2 to 5 grams of sugar and 6 to 9 grams of fiber per can. Serve it over ice with apple slices or pomegranate arils for a refreshing game-day mocktail.
2. Upgrade the Frozen Waffle: Eat Evergreen
Evergreen waffles are made from 100% whole grains, hidden veggies, avocado oil, and maple syrup, with no preservatives or artificial flavors. Top the pumpkin spice or apple cinnamon mini waffles with Greek yogurt and nut butter for a nutritious breakfast that keeps you full longer. Alternatively, you can grab an individually wrapped waffle from the freezer, which thaws by lunchtime.
3. Outsource Dinner on Busy Nights: Snap Kitchen
When practices run late, chef-prepared meals can save you from reaching for fast food. The new Snap Kitchen & Market at Skillman and Mockingbird in Dallas offers made-from-scratch meals alongside a farmer’s market-style shop featuring local dairy, seasonal organic produce, and ready-to-cook marinated proteins made without seed oils.
4. Put Protein on the Snack Table: The New Primal
Most game-day spreads tend to be heavy on chips and dips but light on protein. Meat sticks from The New Primal provide an easy, shelf-stable way to add balance to your plate. Pairing protein with carbohydrates helps slow digestion, keeping you fuller for longer and stabilizing blood sugar between meals.
The Bottom Line
Only about 5% of Americans meet their daily fiber recommendations, and many of us exceed our added sugar limits. Making small, repeated swaps can lead to significant improvements. Construct your game-day plate around protein, fiber, and flavor, and enjoy the season!
Find these brands near you:
OLIPOP https://drinkolipop.com/pages/store-locator
Eat Evergreen https://eatevergreen.com/pages/find-us
Snap Kitchen https://snapkitchen.com/stores
The New Primal https://newprimal.com/pages/find-us
