Introduction
Gaming marathons require dedication and the right food sources to keep you fueled for what can be a mentally demanding day or two.
Sugary snacks are tasty but they don’t always give you sustained energy; with that in mind, we’re going to suggest some treats that are both delicious and full of nutritional goodness too.
In fact, you might be surprised at how tasty these treats are all whilst being able to keep you satiated all day.
If that sounds enticing then keep reading.
The Best Gaming Marathon Snacks To Keep You Fueled and Alert (Top 10)
This list might look a little unusual but the foods rank high on the satiety index for keeping you fuller for longer and are also quite tasty or palatable. Make sure to consult your physician before eating any of these things in case of allergies.
1. Overnight Porridge Oats With Chopped Banana and Honey Drizzle
Porridge oats are one of the most filling foods on the planet, along with banana too.
For good measure you can add a little honey on top to enhance the flavor which is a far better substitute for sugar or other refined sweeteners.
The clues in the name, you’ll mix up your oats and milk as your normally would and you’ll let this soak in overnight to create a creamy, soft wonder snack.
We recommend adding the banana on top when the oats are ready to eat as banana can spoil when left out for too long.
For gaming, the B vitamins in the banana will provide you with an energy boost along with the porridge oats that will give you sustained energy throughout the marathon meaning you won’t be craving unhealthy snacks.
2. Watermelon
When you need something quick and filling, there’s no better alternative than having a giant chunk of watermelon.
That’s because they’re packed with water meaning you’ll feel full very quickly as the volume of the food inflates your stomach, however, this also means they have a very low calorie count too making it super healthy.
If you have a sweet tooth then we recommend ditching the candy and going for watermelon instead to keep you energized for your gaming sessions.
3. Rye Crackers With Cream Cheese
Rye crackers (such as Ryvita) are great snack foods as they’re packed with healthy fiber that can aid your gut health.
They also contain very few calories and can be combined with lots of toppings including popular choices such as cream cheese.
This means you’re getting a high fibre, high protein snack that will keep you satisfied for at least a few hours until your next meal.
They’re also extremely convenient to make and will only take a couple of minutes to whip together to keep you going on your gaming marathon.
4. Popcorn
Popcorn is the ultimate party food which is great for snacking on when you’re chilling, watching a movie, or having a gaming marathon.
Contrary to popular belief, popcorn is a pretty healthy snack which contains a high amount of fiber and very few calories.
You needn’t feel guilty for having a big bowl of popcorn as it’ll barely make a dent in your daily intake provided you aren’t getting the sugary variations.
It also comes in a variety of flavors these days meaning you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to picking your perfect seasoning.
5. Protein Smoothie
Protein shakes are usually associates with gym-goers or people who lift, however, they’re a great way to stave off sweet cravings and will help to keep you feeling fuller for longer which could be perfect for a long gaming session.
In our opinion, protein powder is best mixed into a smoothie with fruit and nut butter to make a tasty but nutritious treat to keep you fueled for a long gaming marathon; they’re a great replacement for energy drinks.
As an added point, getting the right texture and flavor protein is crucial for making a tasty smoothie; from our own tests, we enjoyed the natural creaminess and easy mixing process of Optimum Nutrition’s vanilla ice cream whey powder.
6. Iced Coffee (Frappé)
Coffee is known for its energy-boosting properties as it naturally contains the stimulant caffeine which can make you feel more alert and can stave off sleepiness if you’re needing to power through a gaming session.
Better yet, we think iced coffee or frappe makes for a great treat and can even help to suppress cravings for junk foods making it great for health-conscious gamers.
It’s relatively easy to whip up; all you need is some coffee powder, your favorite milk (oat, soya, etc) and a glass full of ice that you can pour it over.
If you want to get fancy, you can even get sugar-free coffee syrups to enhance the flavor making it even more palatable for the fussy folk out there.
7. Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is the perfect high-protein snack that is both tasty and nutritious to help power you through a long gaming marathon.
It comes in the same convenience form-factor that chips (crisps) do meaning you can buy it in bulk and it’s ready to eat straight from the pack.
You can find jerky with an assortment of seasoning flavors meaning you can pick something that hits the spot for you.
In our opinion, there’s nothing better than a sweet, smoky combination with a little bit of spiciness such as Bridgford Sweet Baby Ray’s Sweet ‘N’ Spicy Beef Jerky.
8. Toasted Wholemeal Bread With Peanut Butter
Bread isn’t known to be especially healthy, however, brown bread (whole wheat) retains the bulk of its nutritional content meaning you’ll be getting all the fiber and micro-nutrients that are usually found in the germ and the bran.
In white bread, the germ and the bran are usually removed which unfortunately removes most of the goodness too.
We also think it removes the characteristic nutty flavors that brown bread typically has which we think is an absolute sin.
If you need an easy, go-to snack that can power you for hours, then we recommend combining some toasted whole wheat bread with peanut butter on top.
9. Baked Potato With Any High-Protein Filling
Potatoes are one of the highest ranking foods on the satiety index; this means they’re extremely filling compared to how many calories they contain.
This also means they’re a great snack for hungry gamers who need to stay fueled and focused for longer.
Because potatoes are so versatile, you can literally combine them with any kind of filling such as tuna mayo, beans, cheese, hummus, and basically anything else you can think of.
We think the best tasting baked potatoes are oven cooked, however, for convenience, you can actually cook them in the microwave meaning they’re an easy snack to cook for when you need to maximize your playing time.
10. Water
So water isn’t really a snack per se, however, it’s absolutely crucial to stay hydrated throughout the day, especially if you’re spending lots of hours gaming.
In fact, water is vital for almost every process in the body and is the medium that’s used to deliver nutrients to muscles and to your brain.
People who drink water will remain more alert than those who don’t which is why it’s critical to drink if you’re wanting to perform at your highest level during your gaming marathon.
What foods should you avoid during a gaming marathon?
We recommend avoiding foods containing refined sugars such as candy or foods that contain high levels of caffeine such as energy drinks.
These types of foods will give you a quick buzz but in the long run, they can make you feel irritable, moody, and even a little jittery.
Foods containing natural sugars are much better for you as they’re more symbiotic with how the body works meaning you’ll feel naturally energized rather than being brute-forced.
We also recommend avoiding junk foods such as chips as they often contains hundreds of calories and very little nutrition; this makes them easy to binge on without ever feeling full.
How can you prepare for a gaming marathon?
You can prepare for a gaming marathon by getting adequate sleep the night before, eating nutritionally sound meals to keep you energized, and setting regular breaks for yourself to retain mental alertness.
Most gamers make the mistake of loading up on energy drinks and junk food snacks, but these are actually detrimental to providing you with a good, clean gaming experience.
Make sure to have lots of healthy snacks prepared as they’ll prevent you from binge-eating on unhealthy foods and can be just as tasty — they’ll also prevent peaks and dips in your mental state as they’ll provide your body with everything it needs to perform optimally.
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