Snacking for the Serious Gamer

We’ve all done it. It’s part of the gaming lifestyle, a period in which the newb is separated from the gamer, a rite of passage. I’m talking, of course, about the long-winded gaming bender. Whether running a 10-hour online session of Call of Duty or the pressure of developing and sustaining a 20-year championship caliber NCAA football team—in which case I’d advocate only using Michigan State—the gamer needs some sort of nourishment to keep their mind clear and focused on the task at hand. The selection of food is as important as the decision of choosing between wielding duel needlers or the gravity hammer in Halo, or spending 5 million in cap space on the high flying left winger or the stay at home defender in the off-season in NHL 08. The wrong choice can be disastrous.

The worst possible food to consume while playing a game is anything that leaves a greasy residue on your hands. Grease is the ultimate saboteur; it leaves the controller slick, which can mean the difference between that perfectly placed head shot and sending a round over the shoulder of an enemy. Unfortunately, this rules out the avorite snack of many: the potato chip. In addition, I’d advise staying away from any foods that’ll leave your fingers orange; this does nothing but dirty your controller and put a foreign substance between your fingers and the ever-important button combos.

The perfect food for gaming must also be easily consumable, something one can eat when short breaks arise. This rules out anything hot, due to its relative short life span. It also must be something that comes in a large quantity, meeting your long-term gaming experience. Therefore, without further adieu, I present you with the perfect gaming snack:

The Pretzel

The pretzel is the perfect snack in every way. It’s the gamer’s gift from God. The pretzel has that perfect texture: it leaves no grease and doesn’t soil the controller. It comes in a bag, consisting of enough pretzels to last hours. It tastes good, and for those that care, is a reasonably healthy choice. The choice of pretzel is purely up to the individual, rods or bite size will suffice. This snack doesn’t have to be restricted to just a serious gaming night; it’s great for an afternoon session with friends, even better if you throw in some liquid fun with your pretzels. The pretzel is the food of the gamer, an enjoyable and nourishing addition to our arsenal.