8 Healthy Foods You Can Serve at a Party

Parties are a time to socialize and relax while enjoying snacks. When you are planning a party, it is easier to head over the junk food aisle and pick up bags of chips and grab some soda bottles. Instead of giving your guests snacks loaded with sugar and salt, try these healthy and nutritious options: 

– Fruit and Cheese

Lay out a variety of cheeses for your guests to sample. Not only do they taste great, but they also give you the calcium that you need.  Hard cheeses like cheddar are high in calcium but also fat, so use sparingly. Add in some soft cheeses like brie for a lighter taste. Fruits such as strawberries, apples, and grapes provide a boost of vitamins. 

– Salsa

When deciding what dip to choose, go for the salsa. A couple of tablespoons of salsa has only ten calories, so guests can eat away. Tomatoes, peppers, and lime, which are the main ingredients in salsa, are loaded with vitamins and fiber. Serve them with toasted whole grain pita bread triangles.

– Mixed Nuts

Nuts are a great crunchy snack to set out on the party table. Nuts contain a ton of protein that keeps you full. Some mixed nut blends also have sunflower and pumpkin seeds, which are full of important vitamins. Be wary of any mixes that are honey-roasted. That means they are covered in sugar. 

– Vegetable sticks with dip

A platter of vegetable sticks such as carrot, celery, cucumber and capsicum make a great accompaniment to a healthy dip and are low in fat and calories as well as providing fiber, vitamins and minerals.

Dips such as hummus, baba ganoush or tzatziki make excellent healthy options and can easily be made at home so that you know exactly what is going into them.

– Fruit

Fresh fruit makes a refreshing end to a party meal or sweet finger food, providing vitamins and fiber with minimal calories and fat. Serve fruit cut into bite sized pieces with yogurt and honey dip or even with a little melted dark chocolate for a little bit of indulgence.

Alternatively, thread small pieces of fruit onto skewers to make portable, easy to eat fruit kabobs. These are also very popular with children

– Sushi

Up the wow factor by serving fresh sushi to yyesour guests. The fish inside contain healthy omega-3s, which promote heart health. The seaweed wrap has minerals from the ocean. Try to avoid sushi made with cream cheese or fried in tempura batter. 

– Chicken skewers

Simple grilled chicken skewers make a great party finger food that provides lean protein.  Marinade your chicken in a healthy mix of spices, olive oil or even yogurt the night before to add flavor and serve with a variety of dipping sauces. They are easy for guests to hold and you can add versatile items like vegetables to them too.

– Red Wine

Instead of offering soda or beer, grab a few bottles of red wine for your guests. Dry wine also has fewer calories than the sweeter types. You can also have some wine spritzers on hand for a lighter taste. 

A party does not need to turn into a junk food feast. Look for healthy snacks that offer nutritional value rather than fat and salt. Your guests will appreciate having any of these tasty, healthy treats at your next event

Posted on 12/2/2020 by The Bariatric Clinic