Beyond Doritos: How to Eat Like a Boss During Game, Movie and Book Club Nights

If you're like me, you spend your work week looking forward to those weekend game and movie nights. Not only are they an opportunity to catch up with friends and family, but you can immerse yourself in different worlds, play out impossible adventures, and build great memories.

But if you and your group(s) are still sustaining yourselves on bags of Doritos and six-packs of Mountain Dew, it may be time to step up your game and actually make creative cooking and baking part of the experience.

For years now, my game and movie partners and I have made our culinary choices part of the overall experience. Toward that end, I've compiled some genre-specific collections of cookbooks below to help you explore new dishes to treat your palette. 

Here are some other related suggestions to enhance your pre-activity meals:

• Coordinate the food to reflect the theme of the night's movie, game or book.
• Take turns choosing the entrée and have your partners coordinate their sides and desserts accordingly.
• Skip an entrée altogether and make one night all about appetizers.
• Create a taco, baked potato or burger bar!
• Cook the food together before any other activities even begin.
• Break out of your comfort zone by trying something really unusual... like cooking authentic medieval dishes before you watch Lord of the Rings.
• Don't forget the drinks! Libations — both alcoholic and non-alcoholic — can add another creative element. Many of the books shown below include drink recipes.
• Add creative table settings, centerpieces or music!

Watch my social media channels for additional tips like these! 

RELATED: Hogwart's Holiday

Video Game Themed Cookbooks

Fallout: The Vault Dweller's Official Cookbook by Victoria Rosenthal

God of War: The Official Cookbook of the Nine Realms by Insight Editions

Halo: The Official Cookbook by Victoria Rosenthal

Mass Effect: The Official Cocktail Book by Cassandra Reeder

Minecraft: Gather, Cook, Eat! Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis

The Witcher Official Cookbook: Provisions, Fare, and Culinary Tales from Travels Across the Continent by Anita Sarna

The Unofficial Zelda Cookbook by Thibaud Villanova

Dragon Age: The Official Cookbook: Taste of Thedas by Jessie Hassett

The Ultimate Gamers Cookbook: Recipes for an Epic Game Night by Insight Editions

The Official Horizon Cookbook: Tastes of the Seven Tribes by Victoria Rosenthal

The Ultimate Final Fantasy XIV Cookbook: The Essential Culinarian Guide to Hydaelyn by Victoria Rosenthal

World of Warcraft: The Official Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

Assassin's Creed: The Culinary Codex by Thibaud Villanova

RPG and Card Game Themed Cookbooks

Heroes' Feast (Dungeons & Dragons): The Official D&d Cookbook by Michael Witwer

Heroes' Feast: The Deck of Many Morsels: 50 Cards for Conjuring Snacks, Libations, and Sweets by Kyle Newman

Heroes' Feast Flavors of the Multiverse: An Official D&d Cookbook by Jon Peterson

My Pokémon Baking Book: Delightful Bakes Inspired by the World of Pokémon by Jarrett Melendez

My Pokémon Cookbook: Delicious Recipes Inspired by Pikachu and Friends by Victoria Rosenthal

Puncheons and Flagons: The Official Dungeons & Dragons Cocktail Book [A Cocktail and Mocktail Recipe Book] by Andrew Wheeler

Catan: The Official Cookbook by the Editors Of Ulysses Press

Magic: The Gathering: The Official Cookbook: Cuisines of the Multiverse by Insight Editions

Movie and Television Themed Cookbooks

The Star Trek Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

Adventure Time: The Official Cookbook by Jordan Grosser

The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Cookbook & Entertaining Guide by Kim Laidlaw

Disney Villains: Devilishly Delicious Cookbook by Julie Tremaine

Jurassic World: The Official Cookbook by Insight Editions

Pixar: The Official Cookbook by Tara Theoharis

The Princess Bride: The Official Cookbook by Jenn Fujikawa

Star Wars: The Life Day Cookbook: Official Holiday Recipes from a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Marc Sumerak

Star Wars: The Ultimate Cookbook: The Official Guide to Cooking Your Way Through the Galaxy by Jenn Fujikawa

Firefly - The Big Damn Cookbook by Chelsea Monroe-Cassel

Book and Comic Book Themed Cookbooks

The Wizard's Dessert Cookbook: Magical Recipes Inspired by Harry Potter, the Hobbit, Fantastic Beasts, the Chronicles of Narnia, and More by Aurélia Beaupommier

Drinking with Wizards, Warriors and Dragons: 85 Unofficial Drink Recipes Inspired by the Lord of the Rings, a Court of Thorns and Roses, the Stormligh by Thea James

A Lord of the Rings Inspired Cookbook: Return of the Kitchen Wizard - Magical Middle-earth Desserts by Mia D. Martin

Marvel Comics: Cooking with Deadpool by Marc Sumerak

Harry Potter: Afternoon Tea Magic: Official Snacks, Sips, and Sweets Inspired by the Wizarding World by Veronica Hinke

Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts: Official Wizarding World Cookbook: Spellbinding Meals from New York to Hogwarts and Beyond! by Jody Revenson

Official Harry Potter Baking Book (40+ Recipes Inspired by the Films) by Joanna Farrow

The Unofficial Harry Potter-Inspired Book of Cocktails: Fantastic Drinks and How to Make Them by Rhiannon Lee

The Official DC Super Hero Cookbook (Deluxe) by Matthew Mead

Gotham City Cocktails: Official Handcrafted Food & Drinks from the World of Batman by André Darlington

Marvel Eat the Universe: The Official Cookbook by Justin Warner

Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Official Cookbook by Jarrett Melendez