Watching the winter Olympics on TV? Find out what kind of fan you are and which snacks suit you best

The Winter Olympics have one special feature: they don’t give you time to chew slowly. A photo finish takes your breath away, a final shot ties your stomach in knots, a hundredth of a second makes you scream like you’re trackside. And yes: couch food changes too. We’re not doing “event recipes” here, but smart starter packs: quick, crunchy, clean, shareable or ritual snacks… depending on how you cheer. Read the profiles, recognise yourself, click: below you’ll find your starter pack (with pantry-ready products).

What kind of couch fan are you?

“I move and model my partner to align them with Pluto and earn the Gods’ favour”. Okay: a touch superstitious. Totò had it right: “Being superstitious is ignorant, but not being so brings bad luck.” If this sounds like you, this is your kit. → Superstitious Starter Pack

“I have the live stopwatch open: without split times I don’t even know if I’m cheering”. You don’t watch a race: you monitor it. You need clean, practical, hands-free food. → Stopwatch Starter Pack

“I don’t watch: I survive. Photo finish and my stomach shuts down (but I still chew)”. Here the anti-panic kit wins: crunchy, small, immediate. → Photo-Finish Anxiety Starter Pack

“I cheer with others: I want commentary, synced shouting and snacks that circulate”. You need communal food: shareable, sturdy, sofa-proof. → Social Starter Pack

“I’m a podium fan: few things, but good ones. Carefully chosen, truly enjoyed (even alone)”. For you, food isn’t filler: it’s part of the show. → Podium Starter Pack

“Great races, the Olympics are wow… but I never eat anything or have to settle: I’m coeliac”. Stay calm and focused: clean surfaces, watch the utensils… and enjoy too! → Gluten-Free Starter Pack

Superstitious Starter Pack

Here the ritual rules. Pick one lucky snack and never betray it (taralli, breadsticks: dry, repeatable, “safe”). Add a fetish drink (same mug, same spot) and keep everything clean: no grease, no sauces, no sticky fingers. The idea is eating without “breaking the flow”: small bites, identical gestures, same bowl.

If tension rises, only increase calorie density — never change pattern: Fonzies, Ribs croccantelle and other salty snacks. Dessert? Small and symbolic: ritual closure, not comfort.

Stopwatch Starter Pack

You also need non-interfering food, but you’re meticulous: portioned, tidy, zero mess. Perfect base: dry bites (cheese cubes, salami pieces, olives, crackers) you can eat without looking. Nothing dripping, no “plates”: you must tap timings and rankings without washing your hands every two minutes.

If adrenaline rises, you don’t cook — you assemble. Dessert must be remote-control safe: chocolate and sweets, nothing crumbly.

Photo-Finish Anxiety Starter Pack

You don’t need a menu: you need an anchor. Your starter pack is made of micro-bites that release tension: crunchy (taralli/crisps) but in small bowls, so you don’t empty the bag at the first overtake. Add instant sugar “for emergencies” (wafers, biscuits, spread on slices), because when anxiety hits you want something immediate.

Avoid anything that needs managing: cutlery, sauces, overly hot food. Golden rule: easy snacks + water always within reach.

Social Starter Pack

If you cheer in a group, food has one job: circulate. Grab-and-go items that survive the table (olives, taralli, breadsticks). Then a “centerpiece” that fills and bonds: tray pizza prepared in advance or a ready-made pizza di scarole. Avoid delicate dishes: with shouting and commentary, something will spill.

Anti-chaos trick: multiple bowls in two or three spots — fewer people crossing the room at key moments.

Podium Starter Pack

Few things, but with dignity: quality + care, without turning the living room into a kitchen. Base: a clean board (cold cuts, cheese, olives — spicy, pepper or Neapolitan-style) and saltimbocca. Add a party touch ready in seconds: pinsa or toast. Keyword: intentional. Even on the couch, it should feel like a choice, not surrender. And yes: you can be superstitious here too — just with style.

And anyway… these photo finishes are pure Batticuore!

Gluten-Free Starter Pack

You’re used to keeping your eyes on the screen while others sprawl shamelessly across the coffee table, emptying bowls without restraint. Mamma mia… what a crowd you’ve ended up with.

There is good news, though. You can lose control too, with gluten-free sweet and savoury products delivered to your door. Just don’t forget to watch the TV — and cheer for Italy!