NFL

NFL stars’ go-to meals and snacks: Mahomes, Allen, Kelce, Hurts...

From French toast rituals to late-night Doritos, the league’s biggest names fuel up with surprisingly down-to-earth favorites.

Calum Roche

Sports-lover turned journalist, born and bred in Scotland, with a passion for football (soccer). He’s also a keen follower of NFL, NBA, golf and tennis, among others, and always has an eye on the latest in science, tech and current affairs. As Managing Editor at AS USA, uses background in operations and marketing to drive improvements for reader satisfaction.

Update: Nov 30th, 2025 10:13 EST

NFL players may look like finely tuned machines, but how much do you really know about their food habits? As it turns out, some of the game’s top stars rather enjoy tucking into the same stuff we all do. Drawing on reporting from Allrecipes.com, here is a look at how some of the league’s biggest names really eat, from pregame carb-loading to guilty-pleasure snacks.

Why Travis Kelce swears by French toast

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce has stuck to the same pregame plate since his rookie year: French toast with strawberries. He once confirmed it directly on social media, and later told Inside Hook that he has used the dish to carb-load before every professional game he has ever played. By now, that easily adds up to more than 200 servings. The logic is practical – simple sugars and carbs offer quick fuel – but it also reflects a creature of habit staying loyal to what works.

Christian McCaffrey’s snack kryptonite

Despite keeping a structured diet built around bison, steak, sweet potatoes, and veggie-heavy stews, San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey has one weakness: Cool Ranch Doritos. In a past interview with GQ, he admitted he can finish a king-size bag without pause. Oreos present the same problem. Structure may define his training, but snack cravings? Those remain human.

Patrick Mahomes balances high-octane chili with candy cravings

The Chiefs quarterback is known for his Whataburger loyalty and his nighttime snacking. Jolly Rancher Gummies, Starbursts, and Doritos reportedly top the list, according to his wife. But Mahomes also leans on heartier fare: the Kingdom Cookbook features his go-to green turkey chili, developed by his personal chef and packed with poblano peppers, corn, beans, sweet potatoes, spices, and cilantro. It’s become a family staple.

Jalen Hurts keeps it light at lunch

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, featured in Men’s Health, sticks to straightforward midday eating: usually a Caesar salad or a protein-boosted Cobb. The principle is simple – he avoids feeling weighed down - but that doesn’t stop him from enjoying post-win desserts courtesy of a coach’s family. His chosen indulgence, though, is Blue Bell Butter Pecan ice cream, a Texas favorite he refuses to give up.

Josh Allen’s two-ingredient primetime ritual

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen avoids eating before day games. But for late kickoffs, he turns to buttered pasta: straightforward carbs without the heaviness of a full meal. It’s familiar comfort food, a superstition, and a functional energy source wrapped into one.

So, next time you’re at home toying with the idea about snacking on something unhealthy, think to yourself, “I too could be making millions in the NFL!” Tuck in, friend.