Top 15 Gaming Snacks / Drinks

It’s a lazy Sunday and you have no idea what to eat while you’re gaming. It obviously can’t be greasy or powdered (pizza, chips, donuts) and it has to be something that actually tastes good. Below is a list of my top 15 gaming snacks and drinks in no particular order.

15. Energy Drinks
The basis of any gamer’s diet. Whether you’re drinking Redbull, Monster, or Amp, you’re going to be up for the next few hours. While energy drinks are great, they’re also expensive. Number 14 has that base covered.

14. Hot Tea
I bet I’m getting a lot of strange looks right now; however, hot tea is actually very beneficial and cheap. There’s nothing better than a cup of earl gray tea to help relax and focus. I prefer tea to energy drinks because energy drinks tend to make me a little too twitchy for my liking. If you haven’t tried tea during your gaming sessions, I highly recommend it.

13. Slim Jims
Tasty and completely unhealthy, Slim Jims are a quick snack for the gamer who needs some cheap food. The trick to eating them is making sure you open it properly so that you avoid touching the actual “meat” as long as possible. If you end up touching the meat you may as well make your way to the sink because your hands will be greasy as shit.

12. Beef Jerky
The big (and more expensive) brother to Slim Jims. When buying beef jerky, make sure you don’t cheap out. Good beef jerky shouldn’t leave any residue on your hands. It’s also the perfect size for quick eating when your hungry. If you can afford the premium, I vote beef jerky over Slim Jims any day of the week.

11. M&M’s
One of the least messy snacks, M&M’s are always good to satisfy that chocolate craving without getting chocolate everywhere. The trick to eating them is how you go about opening the package. Tear from the middle of the package on a diagonal so that there’s just a small opening which serves to pour them out neatly. My only complaint with M&M’s is that you’ll probably find them in the couch a month later.

10. Skittles
A great snack if you don’t like chocolate but prefer a fruity candy. Skittles involve no mess at all unless they get warm and then the food coloring will probably end up on your fingers. At that point I wouldn’t be eating them but to each his own. In terms of how to open them, see the M&M instructions above.

9. Oreo’s
Now sold in resealable packs, Oreo’s are a great go-to snack. I highly recommend getting some milk while you’re at it because nothing is better to wash down the chocolate/cream goodness that they provide. The only problem you’re going to run into with Oreo’s is crumbs… and more crumbs…

8. Pizza Bites
The first hot food on this list, Pizza Bites are a great substitute for Pizza (which gets everything greasy). The trick to eating them is not to touch any of the toppings. If you manage to only touch the bagel, your hands should be pretty much grease free.

7. Gummy Bears
While I wouldn’t recommend eating bag after bag, Gummy Bears are great if you’re looking for minimal mess. Like skittles, make sure the Gummy Bears aren’t warm or else they’ll get sticky. The other advantage to them is that they have no crumbs.

6. Milk Shakes
A perfect mix between beverage and snack, milk shakes are great if you want a heavier drink or don’t want to deal with eating food. My recommendation is to go for a thinner shake so you don’t have to deal with spooning it out. If any of you east coast guys live near a Wawa, they have great shakes.

5. Clementines
For the healthier gamer, clementines are a nice way to perk yourself up. Unless you’re great at peeling them, you’re probably going to end up messy hands. Before starting your session, peel a few before hand so you don’t have to deal with the mess. In terms of price, you can pick up a “crate” of them for a pretty decent price.

4. Sushi
For the more expensive tastes out here, Sushi is a great mix of food in a bite size piece (if you get a roll). If you’re good with chopsticks, you should have no problem with the mess at all. The only thing holding most people back is the price.

3. Ritz Crackers
For clarification, I’m talking about the crackers, not the peanut butter crackers. While bland to most, Ritz Crackers are good to munch on as they come in big “barrels” of crackers. Like the Oreo’s you’re probably going to be dealing with a few crumbs after you’re done with them.

2. Triscuts
A bit tastier than Ritz crackers, Triscuts are one of the only “crackers” that both taste good and have little to no mess. If you get bored with original, there are plenty of varieties to choose from. Just be wary because not all varieties of Triscuts are grease/mess free.

1. Dumplings
If you haven’t gotten the sense already, I have a thing for “exotic” gaming food. Once again, chopsticks are necessary unless you go with steamed dumplings. The great part about them is that you can get anything from shrimp to pork inside so you’re actually getting some meat.

While this list has a fair amount of food, there are plenty of other snacks out there that are just as good (perhaps better) than what I have here. If you have any recommendations, post them in the comments.