Snacking Strategy

By Sarah McVeigh
This might be the most important topic that I will ever write about. So sit up, pay attention, and focus.
I am very much looking forward to this upcoming weekend. Why, you may ask? Big plans? Quite the opposite. I have nothing planned for this weekend. No baby or bridal shower, no wedding, no birthday, no family dinner. I have not been able to enjoy a full Saturday of college football, from the start of College GameDay on ESPN to the last game of the night. That is exactly what I will be doing all day this Saturday.
Which brings me to the urgent topic of the week: game day eats. If I’m planning on sitting on the couch watching football for 12 hours straight, I need nourishment, for crying out loud!
We need to have this conversation because if you invite me over to watch a game and there is a salad and pizza, I’m gonna be pissed. While my husband is the chef for our weeknight meals, if we are hosting—or if it’s a special occasion like football—I am in charge. I’m good at snacks and apps, which, by the way, is the only appropriate food to serve when watching a game.
I need a large variety of snacks and appetizers that I can graze on all day. A proper game day spread must follow a strict, five-part formula.
The first, and possibly the most important, is chips and dips. You can, and should, have more than one! You can have a queso and tortilla chips AND a French onion dip with potato chips (my personal favorite). If you have French onion dip, I am posting up at the table and eating the whole bowl.
Although I slammed salads earlier, I do expect some type of vegetable, so I don’t feel too bad about myself. Yes, I ate all the onion dip, but I had some greens! I usually lay out carrots and celery with another dip, like hummus. Consider this part to be conscience-clearing.
Next, we need a protein of some kind. This could be pigs in a blanket, buffalo chicken sliders, wings, or even a chili. The possibilities are endless, but do not get your guests hyped on salty snacks without protein in the mix.
Then you need a star of the show. Think of it like a game day centerpiece. Maybe it’s the star because it’s pretty, or it took the most time to cook, but you need something. In the past, I made a 7-layer dip with a jalapeno-shaped football as my star. I have also served a big, bubbly cheese dip in the cast iron with pretzel bites. You need something to wow your crowd.
Last but certainly not least: what is for dessert? Do not tell me that after I have downed salt and carbs for four hours that you are not serving me a sweet treat. They could be store-bought cookies for all I care, but I need something for dessert.
Now that you know the formula, I expect to walk into any home in Rockaway on gameday and see the appropriate spread. I have allowed mediocrity in this town for too long!