Golf is not an easy game and it’s even tougher when you handicap yourself by eating foods that’ll slow you down. If you’re going to snack, do it the right way.
Whether you’re walking or riding, it’s important to keep your body fed appropriately. Putting the wrong gasoline in your car wouldn’t help you go faster or for it to work more efficiently — just like throwing junk down your gullet won’t help you finish off that career round.
So if not candy or Doritos or anything like that, then what should you be eating? Here are 20 great snacks for a great round of golf:
15. Yogurt and Frozen Blueberries
Yogurt and frozen blueberries is an excellent treat that will also fuel your body on the golf course. The best way to make this work is to freeze your blueberries the night before your round and find a container for your Greek yogurt. Store the blueberries separately in plastic bags so you can mix them at your leisure.
The only issue with this snack is that they do need to remain cold, so it does require a cooler. If you’re walking, this might not be the best choice — but if you’re in a cart, it’s a great way to get some powerful antioxidants and to keep cool in the summer heat.
14. Popcorn
Obviously, we’re not talking about movie theater butter-style popcorn here, but there’s plenty of easy, healthy way to prepare popcorn that you can take with you during a round that are healthy and will keep you grinding.
Make some popcorn before your round and while it’s warm, toss it with whatever flavoring you desire. A little garlic salt, some paprika — whatever your taste buds desire.
As long as you avoid that buttery mess, popcorn is actually a great snacking option on the course. Not only is it high in fiber, it’s also one of the easiest items on the list to transport.
13. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Hard-boiled eggs aren’t necessarily my favorite, but their benefit is impossible to deny.
They’re easy enough to make and they travel pretty well. Peel it, sprinkle some salt on it and enjoy the benefits of the protein and healthy fats that won’t slow you down or cause a spike in your blood sugar.
12. Mixed Nuts
One of the easiest options for a healthy snacking is mixed nuts. Almonds, peanuts, pecans, cashews — whatever: they’re all great options.
On top of providing you with a filling snack, it also provides plenty of energy and protein. Best of all, they’re easy to carry. Whether you buy cans at the store or you make your own bag of them or toss the combo in a container, they’re always there and are never affected by the elements.
11. Baked Sweet Potato
If you like starches and are looking for a snack that will satiate that desire, it’s a great idea to bake a sweet potato the night before your round. In the morning, pack it up with a plastic fork, drizzle a little olive oil over it and maybe a dash of salt and you’ll have a great snack in the middle of your round.
Remember, not all carbs are bad — especially if you’re walking 18 holes and need a burst of energy.
10. Granola
One of the more popular items for golfers to have on them during a round is granola. You can, of course, get granola at the store — or you can make it on your own!
All you need are some simple ingredients. There are quite literally hundreds of granola recipes online which means that you will find something to suit your tastebuds.
Once it’s done, it’s easy enough to pack into bags and take with you around the course that will provide you with bursts of energy.
9. Granola Bars
Obviously, this option is basically the same thing as the option above but even more convenient! If you’re going to make your own.
Also like the above, there are hundreds of options and recipes on the internet that you ought to be able to find a personal favorite.
8. Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich
One of my personal favorite golf foods is a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Some will argue that the bread isn’t a great choice — which is fair — but if you make the sandwich on rye or a whole grain bread, you’ll survive.
The peanut butter and banana combination will give you the a boost of energy, a nice dose of protein and potassium and help keep your muscles pumping toward the end of the round.
7. Baked Tortilla Chips
Now, this isn’t an invitation to toss a bag of Tostitos in your golf back and call it clean living, but if you’re going to snack on “junk food” during your round, than tortilla chips of a baked variety is a pretty good call.
If you really want to be healthy, you can make your own at home. Simply take a package of soft tortillas and cut them into triangles. Toss ’em on some parchment paper on a cookie sheet, spray with oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake ’em for about 5 minutes, flip the chips, and repeat the previous three steps.
When they’re cooled, you’ve got a healthy, homemade snack.
6. Bacon
Yes, I’m serious — bacon makes a great on-course snack. Of course, that’s provided it’s the right kind of bacon. I wouldn’t recommend snacking some pre-packaged bacon, but if you can get your hands on some local bacon or something organic then it’s a great idea.
Simply cook the bacon the night or morning before your round, toss it in a ziplock bag and eat it cold over the course of the round. It’ll provide that protein boost and the salt content will keep you getting dehydrated.
5. Cheese Sticks
One of the quickest, easiest snacks to enjoy on the golf course. You don’t want to go crazy on them — but if you need something that you can nibble on as the round goes on. There’s plenty of carbohydrates, healthy fats and proteins in it that if you choose to pace yourself, cheese sticks can be a great snack that lasts the whole afternoon.
4. Baked Carrot Chips
If you like chips and crunchy things but you don’t want all the junk that comes with bags of chips and things of the sort, homemade carrot chips are a fantastic alternative.
They’re easy to make and taste great. Just cut up some carrots into chips, toss them in bowl of olive oil and spread them out over a parchment-covered cookie sheet. Sprinkle them with sea salt and bake until crisp.
One warning — make sure you watch them. Burnt carrot chips kind of suck.
3. Fresh Fruit
Fresh fruit is never a bad choice, especially if you’re a golfer — though you don’t want to overdo it. The fruit provides the energy, carbs and nutrients that you need to keep going during a round without the sugar crash from candy, soda or energy drinks.
2. Trail Mix
There’s some pretty easy items on this list to make yourself but trail mix might be the best. I’d recommend you don’t buy the prepackaged stuff unless it’s of the organic variety. You want to avoid preservatives and anything else that goes on in the packaging process.
Buy some dark chocolate chips, some mixed nuts, maybe some raisins and toss ’em in a bowl. Split the mix up into bags and you’ve got yourself an awesome, filling and convenient snack.
1. Beef Jerky
The No. 1., best snack for a golfer during a round is without a doubt — beef jerky.
Beef jerky is to golfers what home-brewed beer is to millennials. We’ve all tried to make our own and with various results, we love it when a fellow golfer pulls out a bag of theirs and are always willing to try it and we will pay top-dollar for the good stuff — or to support a fellow golfer.
You don’t necessarily want to pick up a bag of processed store-brand jerky, but there are plenty of great options out there. Kingmade is perhaps the most popular — after all, it is made and sold by a PGA Tour caddie.