Erin Andrews Just Told Us The Snacks That Keep Her Energized on the NFL Sidelines

• NFL sportscaster Erin Andrews shares her hosting tips for football season and her partnership with Gerber.
• In this exclusive interview, she talks about prioritizing water and high-protein snacks to keep her energized.
• Andrews tells us about her favorite childhood meal, game day foods and more.

Erin Andrews seemingly does it all. As a sportscasting mogul, the TV personality has made a name for herself as one of the most widely-regarded sideline reporters in American sports. She’s also a podcaster, the founder of women-focused fan wear clothing brand, Wear by Erin Andrews, and a mother to a two-year old son. Andrews has proven herself to be a trailblazer on and off the field. 

In this exclusive interview, we sat down with Andrews to chat about how she celebrates football season when she’s not working the sidelines, her tips for hosting with kids and her favorite nostalgic recipe that she’s passing down to her family. Plus, we learn more about her collaboration with the Gerber Family-Friendly Restaurant Fund and how they’re working together to make game day more family-friendly. 

Favorite place to watch the game with your family when you’re not on the sidelines? 

I just did it last night, and it was so nice. It was twofold actually, because here on the West Coast, it starts earlier. So we had a bunch of Mack’s friends over and their parents, and we did a big swimming lesson in our pool. Then, right before Mackie went to bed, we just cuddled up on the couch and watched some of it. So yeah, just with my family on the couch. But then, I’m also texting my team on Fox talking about the game. I’m present, but I’m also talking to my boys about it. 

You’re hosting game day at your house, what’s one dish you’re preparing? 

I’m not much of a cook, but for people coming over, I think it’s important to have the essentials, like the guac and chips. I love a charcuterie, and there’s so many cute things, like little footballs and goalposts you can put on it. And then, obviously, you want to make it family-friendly, which Gerber does a great job of. You want to have a ton of snacks for the kiddos, and they have all that with the puffs, the little crunchies, the yogurt melts, all those kinds of things, because you want everybody to have a good time. 

How do you stay hydrated and energized on the sidelines, any go-to snacks?

I’m just big into water. It blows my mind, back in the day when I started doing this, I was pounding Cokes. I mean, I love Coke, but you need to hydrate yourself. Even this weekend, it was hot on the field, so you have to hydrate as much as you can because it’s not like we get to eat very much. I try to just do something with protein and substance when I get to the stadium, just something to keep my energy up. I love a trail mix, anything like that. I love little oranges and pistachios, anything to just keep me going. Then, I’m not gonna lie, once we get to the airport, I crush a meal like I’m a 300-pound offensive lineman. You put a burger in front of me, it’s gone.

Any advice for new parents hosting this football season?

You’ve got to have the snacks available. I mean, obviously you want to bring some toys and maybe a book, so if they’re not interested in what’s happening on the field, you can kind of play around with them. A change of clothes, because we all know things can happen. Also, what’s really cool about what Gerber’s doing right now is they have this whole initiative to make restaurants family-friendly. So, these family-owned bars and restaurants, they’re gonna help them add to and update their spaces, like play areas, changing tables, high chairs and booster seats. So if you don’t want to host, and you want to go out with your friends, they’re gonna make it family-friendly for you. 

Any nostalgic childhood favorites that you now cook for yourself or your family? 

My dad’s pasta primavera. It’s like the easiest recipe in the entire world, but when we were at competitive dance class from the morning all the way to the afternoon, my dad would make a big thing of pasta primavera. 

What does eating well mean to you? 

Like I said, I’ll crush a meal on Sunday after I’m done working, but I am very mindful. Food is energy, and food is a way of life. It’s how you feel. I just think it’s a choice, especially if you want to have energy and feel good and be healthy.