Going gluten-free isn’t particularly easy, even though options have improved in today’s world. We’ve already covered the possibilities of enjoying fast food when you’re not able to eat gluten, but there’s another area where this dietary restriction poses some real problems: the world of snacks.
Gamers everywhere will know that when you settle down for a good gaming session, you want one thing above all else. You want some good nibbles to fill your stomach with. You want something that’s easy to eat, satisfying, tasty, and not so greasy that you’ll be cleaning your phone or controller for weeks.
For those able to consume gluten, that’s no problem – the options are almost endless. But if you’re not able to eat certain cereals, you might feel like your choices are far narrower, and you get stuck when it comes to games nights. After all, hitting all the above boxes and finding something that doesn’t take long to make – that’s a challenge. The good news? We’ve got you covered.
Vegetable Bowl, Plus Rice Crackers
First up, can anything compete with the crisp snap of raw carrots? The refreshing crunch of sliced cucumber? The “POP” of a really sweet tomato?
A veggie bowl takes very little time to prepare. You just toss together all your favorite vegetables that can be eaten raw. Cucumber, celery, carrots, sugar snap peas, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and more. However, even with all those goodies, we can do better. Here, you need two secret ingredients. Rice crackers and dip.
Why rice crackers? Well, put simply: flavor and carbohydrates. Firstly, let’s cover flavor. Even for folks who really love a vegetable bowl, it can feel a bit boring and lacking in taste. However, rice crackers come in a ton of different flavors: think sweet chili, barbecue, salt and pepper, and more. They’ll take your dish to the next level.
Next, carbs. Because they’re made of rice flour, rice crackers will feed your brain, and this is super important for many gaming sessions. Let’s say you’re playing thinking games, like casino table games. You need a steady supply of fuel – which means you should be skipping the cookies and candy – to retain your focus. When you play online table games, you’re often focusing intently, which means you need to feed your brain plenty of foods that won’t cause a sudden mental crash halfway through a round of poker or blackjack.
Indeed, feeding your brain is possibly one of the best ways you can ensure you have an edge in these games. You can’t think straight if your stomach is growling because you’ve only given it empty calories all day. You can consider this one of the most important elements of your pre-game routine; it matters just as much as hyping yourself up!
@slotslv 'It's the anticipation for me 🤩'
♬ original sound – SlotsLV
Of course, adding a good dollop of your favorite gluten-free dip to your bowl really takes this plateful to the next level. Whether you opt for a classic like sour cream and chive or you pick something like cucumber and dill, it transforms the whole experience.
Fruit And Nut Mix
If you’re looking for something even simpler than preparing all those veggies, let’s go a little “nuts.”
First things first, grab a big bowl. You want lots of space; after all, there are nuts galore out there, and for a treat night, you want to go wild. Almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, walnuts, macadamia nuts – whatever tickles your fancy.
Next, it’s fruit’s turn. Sure, raisins are fine – but what about dried cranberries, figs, apricots, and sultanas? They’re delicious when combined with the nutty goodness we’ve already got. And if you feel indulgent, a few dark chocolate drops will take this into the stratosphere.
The advantage of this is that you can pick away at it throughout the evening without worrying about greasy smears on the screen. Plus, when you’ve had enough, you can just pop the remnants in a sealed Tupperware… another gaming night snack sorted.
Sweet Potato Wedges
Okay, what if you’re after something hot for your gaming session? That’s simple too! We just need a sweet potato, a bit of spice, and a baking tray to make some gluten-free snack magic.
Cut the sweet potato into thin strips (no need to peel) and then toss it in olive oil and whatever spices sound delectable – smoked paprika and chili is a classic if you’re a fan of the hot stuff, but you can branch out and try other combos if you like. A bit of smoked garlic rarely goes amiss.
Spread the wedges on the baking sheet, throw them in the oven, bake for about 30 or 40 minutes, and then serve. We’d add some sweet chili dipping sauce, tomato ketchup, or creme fraiche, depending on your preferences. These are still fairly finger-friendly, but we’d recommend having a napkin nearby so smears on the screens can be avoided. The humble sweet potato is a very healthy option, so you can enjoy these guilt-free on games nights!
