Healthy Finger Foods

Finger food is a type of food that can easily be grabbed as a snack or as a meal by using the hands or fingers. Finger foods are popular at parties or get-togethers as an appetizer or a pairing with wine and drinks. Keeping finger foods healthy and tasty at the same time will assure that even those who are health conscience will remain satisfied.

Fruit Trays

One way to enjoy healthy finger foods is to create a fruit tray. Fruit provides an array of vitamins and nutrients such as vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron and magnesium. They also offer a low fat, healthy alternative to sweets. Popular fruits that can be washed and placed on trays or plates are grapes, cherries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Fruits such as watermelon, muskmelon, cantaloupe, apples, mangos and kiwi can be sliced and placed on a plate to be eaten with the fingers. They can also be eaten with a toothpick or skewer if desired and then pulled off and popped into the mouth.

Vegetable Trays

A fresh vegetable tray of raw uncooked vegetables is a healthy alternative to a high fat snack. Vegetable trays can include tasty veggies such as cherry tomatoes, broccoli cuts, cauliflower pieces, green pepper slices, mushroom slices, celery stalks, baby carrots, cucumber slices, radishes and hot peppers. Vegetables are popular meals and snacks that are welcomed almost everywhere.

Chocolate Covered

Chocolate covered fruits or low-fat snacks offer a tasty and healthy alternative to processed snacks and food. One way to make this option healthier is to use dark chocolate. Dark chocolate offers slightly lower saturated fat and calories compared to milk chocolate. Low-fat pretzels, graham crackers, shortbread cookies and low-fat cereals are healthy and tasty finger food alternatives to candy bars. Fresh fruits such as strawberries and apples can also be dipped in chocolate and eaten by hand.

Cracker Concoctions

Choosing crackers over nachos or chips offers another healthy finger food option. Low-fat crackers such as Triscuit, All-Bran and vegetable crackers can serve as the cracker base. From there a low-fat cheese spread, cottage cheese, sliced low-fat mozzarella or cheddar can be added. The cracker can be garnished with a cherry tomato, salsa, herbs, peppers or sliced radish. Low-fat chunks of turkey, tuna fish or chicken can also be placed on top of the cracker for a light lunch option.

Appetizers

Vegetables such as carrots and celery can be sliced and filled with low-fat peanut butter or low-fat spreadable cheese. Mushrooms can be filled with a vegetable and low-fat herb and cheese mixture that is pureed and then baked for a tasty alternative to high fat, deep fried mushrooms. A plate of bread and butter pickles, black or green olives and low fat cubed cheese are popular options for a healthy finger food appetizer.