Five Low Calorie Finger Foods

Many classic finger foods such as cheese and crackers, mini-quiches and pigs in a blanket are high in calories and fat. When you are watching your calorie intake, eating just a few of these appetizer morsels can easily cause you to exceed your calorie needs, without satisfying your appetite. At your next party, serve low-calorie finger foods so you can indulge in the appetizers without blowing your calorie budget.

Pesto-Filled Cherry Tomatoes

Mix together ¼ cup whipped cream cheese and 1 tbsp. pesto. Slice the top lid off about 10 cherry tomatoes and scoop out the seeds. Using a small spoon or pastry bag, stuff about ½ tbsp. of the cream cheese into each cherry tomato and serve. One of these finger foods contains just about 25 calories.

Melon and Prosciutto

Prosciutto is a type of Italian ham that has a salty, smoky flavor and is usually sliced paper thin. Take a quarter of a slice of prosciutto and wrap it around small wedge of honeydew or cantaloupe, then secure with a toothpick. One ham-wrapped wedge contains just 57 calories.

Polenta with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Purchase pre-cooked tubes of polenta, or cooked cornmeal, in many major supermarkets or specialty stores. Slice the polenta into ¼-inch slices and place on a baking sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray. Broil until beginning to brown. In your food processor, blend together 2/3 cup of soft sun-dried tomatoes, 4 tsp. olive oil, 1 tbsp. fresh parsley, 2 tsp. capers and 1 chopped garlic clove. Cut the polenta rounds into fours, and top each wedge with ¼ tsp. of the tomato mixture for a finger food with about 15 calories.

Asparagus with Curry Dip

Steam thin asparagus spears and chill. Make a dip using 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt, 1 tsp. curry powder, 1/2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice and 1 tbsp. grated red onion. Serve the dip with the asparagus for dipping. One tbsp. of the dip with three 5-inch long asparagus spears contains just 20 calories.

Ham Spread with Celery

Combine 1 ½ cups of diced ham with 1 cup diced roasted red peppers, 1 tbsp. sherry vinegar and ½ tsp smoked paprika. Puree in a food processor and mix in 8 oz. low-fat cream cheese and ¼ cup fresh parsley. Top celery sticks with 1 tbsp. of the mixture for a finger food with under 50 calories.