Every four years, my favorite sports tournament comes back to life. After much anticipation, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is finally bringing the FIFA Men’s World Cup back and this year’s World Cup will be held in Qatar-the first country from the Middle East to host the tournament. This international event includes 32 international countries from every continent in the world and the games run from Nov 20, 2022 until Dec 18, 2022. Billions of people tune in to watch the tournament from their homes, some even flying to the host country for the World Cup experience. 

Tinger is holding a Brazilan flag in preparation for a World Cup watch party event

It may not be traditional for other regions in the world to eat and drink while watching a sports game; in the US, this is the only way to watch a sports game-to eat, drink, and just make a whole experience out of it. Many CPG brands (consumer products goods) invest in TV and digital advertising to promote food and drinks that you could enjoy while hosting or attending a Superbowl watch party (American Football championship).  

In the spirit of bringing cultures together with food and sports camaraderie, here are World Cup healthy snack ideas that include international snacks and appetizers perfect for hosting a FIFA World Cup viewing party this year.  

North America  

In the US, we love our crispy appetizers that we can snack on for hours. Here are a few of my favorite low-carb appetizers that will leave you satisfied without feeling heavy.   

Crispy low carb jicama fries

Low-Carb Jicama Fries 

My low-carb Jicama Fries recipe includes garlic, parsley, and parmesan. These low-carb fries are air fried and they come out even crispier without the grease from frying and even if you were to bake them in the oven. Click HERE to purchase my favorite Phillips air fryer that can make delicious meals for up to four of family members, friends, or loved ones. Another more economical Air Fryer option would be the Corsori that you can purchase HERE.

BBQ Buffalo Chicken wings and drumettes

Buffalo Chicken Wings and Drumettes  

Buffalo Chicken Wings and Drumettes are always a hit at American Super Bowl parties, so it is only right that I include them on this list. 

I love marinating my chicken in low-calorie sauces such as the Primal Kitchen’s buffalo sauce which has only 1g of carbs per serving with no sugar added. This low-calorie, dairy-free buffalo sauce is made of real ingredients and is also keto-friendly! You can purchase the Primal Kitchen buffalo sauce and get a 10% discount off your purchase when you use the code TINGER10 through this link. 

Moving along to our neighbors south of the border in Mexico. You can never go wrong with Mexican cuisine because everybody just seems to love it. Here are a few of my favorite snacks and drinks to munch on especially when the Mexican national team plays.  

Mexican Fruit cup with tajin (chili and lime mix) with a squeeze of lime huice

Fruit Cup with Chili & Lime Mix  

You will typically see slices of watermelon, jicama, cucumbers, pineapples, and melons in cups but you can be as creative as you want! Make sure to include a chili and lime spice like Tajin and a squeeze of lemon juice to add a pop of citrus to this Mexican fruit bowl. Check out this easy and quick Mexican fruit cup recipe here. 

Have you heard about the tricks to make your watermelon tastier? Check out this quick video to learn how.  

Michelada is a popular Mexican beer cocktail that you can drink while watching World Cup

Low-Carb Michelada 

The first time I tried this drink, I fell in love with it because it reminded me of a Mexican version of a bloody mary. The version I drink myself includes lower-carb beer like Corona Premiere and I create my own tomato juice as an alternative to Clamato to make the best low-carb michelada. Check out my recipe here 

This is a homemade Low Carb and Keto Friendly Mexican cheese quesadilla with cauliflower tortillas

Low-Carb Quesadilla 

While the English have their finger sandwiches, the Mexicans have their quesadillas. It’s just so convenient to eat and you can include any protein you like such as chicken, shrimp, or steak in addition to the melty cheese. You can also top it off with sour cream, hot sauce, or salsa. Here is my favorite guilt-free quesadilla recipe that is low-carb and keto-friendly. If you want an easier recipe without making your own low-carb tortillas, I would suggest using the La Banderita Carb Counter Flour Tortilla or La Tortilla Factory low-carb Flour Tortilla. 

North Africa & The Middle East  

When I traveled to these regions of the world, I was lucky enough to visit Tunisia and Morocco, which happen to be two of the countries playing in this year’s FIFA World Cup. Here are my favorite dishes from those days when I traveled to North Africa and the Middle East. 

Hummus with chickpeas and parsley is an ideal snack for eating during World Cup since it has complex carbs and protein.

Hummus  

 Made with chickpeas and traditionally eaten with pita chips, you can also eat them with your favorite vegetables such as carrots, celery, and cucumbers. Although it’s high in carbs, it’s also high in fiber and has some plant-based protein. Hummus is one of the top favorites when it comes to Mediterranean cuisine. Check out this quick authentic hummus recipe. 

This air fried chickpeas is an easy snack tbat you can eat with a tall glass of beer (instead of peanuts) while watching World Cup 2022.

Roasted Chickpeas  

Chickpeas as a snack are traditionally fried with olive oil and salt but you can use your air fryer to make the recipe healthier and crispier as opposed to baking the chickpeas. I love this snack because it’s a more nutritious crunch snack in comparison to fried potato chips. This dish is rich in protein and fiber and can help lower your cholesterol levels. You can use this recipe for the perfect roasted chickpeas. 

Moroccan Mint Tea

Moroccan Mint Tea 

A cup of Moroccan mint tea is a nice morning pick-me-up that contains gunpowder tea (a type of Chinese green tea) and mint. Traditionally, this tea includes caster or rock sugar but you can also drink this tea sugar-free or you can substitute your tea with a calorie-free monk fruit sweetener which is what I typically do. You can also enjoy your Moroccan mint tea (or just about any tea really!) with Medjool dates. Check out this recipe. 

Europe 

With a handful of European countries who have qualified for this year’s men’s World Cup 2022 comes a slew of tasty snacks that I’ve tried while traveling to this part of the world. Here are a couple of my favorite European snacks.    

Charcuterie Board 

 One of my favorite French appetizers to pair with a refreshing glass of white wine is a marvelous charcuterie board full of low-carb and keto-friendly cheeses, thin slices of high quality cured meats, fresh fruits, and organic nuts. If you like more sweetness, you can also include a variety of spreads such as honey and jam. Here is a video of a charcuterie board I made with locally sourced French Canadian products. 

Spanish Olives are a great snack to have while watching the World Cup matches.

Olives 

When I traveled to Spain, I tried a variety of tapas that included olives. One popular type of olive is the Spanish queen olive which is known for its large size, meaty texture, and briny flavor. Not only are these flavorful snacks, but these little green nuggets are also low-carb, rich in vitamin E and healthy monounsaturated fats. You can also add olives to your charcuterie board. Check out these gluten-free whole queen olives. 

Pao de Queijo is a popular Brazilian tapioca bread that's gluten free and deliciously chewy and cheesy. This is another tasty snack you can enjoy while watching Team Brazil play in World Cup.

Pao de Queijo 

 If you love cheese and bread, this is the street snack for you. This cheese bread is one of the most popular snacks that you will find in pretty much every home in Brazil. With its soft and chewy texture, this is a different take on the traditional bread balls that you may eat at restaurants in the US. Because this pastry is made from tapioca flour, it’s gluten-free. So, if you are cheering for Brazil as I will be during this tournament, make sure you include this cheese bread to your list of World Cup snacks. Check out my recipe here. 

Asia  

Just like Mexican cuisine, you can never go wrong with Asian snacks! Check out my top Asian snacks recommendation below. 

Spicy Tuna roll that's low carb and refreshing to eat during the World Cup games.

Spicy Tuna Roll  

Although I haven’t traveled to Japan, I’ve eaten a variety of Japanese cuisine to feel like I’ve visited there at least once in my lifetime. I’m so excited to see Japan in the World Cup again this year because it’ll keep inspiring me to make the trip to this food and technology mecca. For now, here’s my delicious low-carb version of a spicy tuna roll 

Korea Gimbap or Kimbap which has pickled root vegetables (carrots) and spinach and eggs

Gimbap 

If you aren’t into raw fish, I got you. This is the cooked version of a popular Korean dish that looks similar to sushi with the use of rice and seaweed wrap. It’s typically stuffed with cooked spinach, eggs, carrots, pickled radish, and beef.  This bite-size dish is also known as kimbap as well as gimbap.

It’s not always convenient to travel to these destinations in person but I love the idea that we can travel through our taste buds by creating these healthy snack recipes or experiencing these dishes from restaurants. Please let me know which dish you would try. And if you have any questions, feel free to DM me @dashofting on Instagram. I will also be posting a video series on YouTube called “Guess the World Cup team I am cheering for based on the recipe I’m making” so make sure you CLICK HERE to join in the fun.