Holiday parties can be a dieting minefield, and traditional healthy options, such as the ubiquitous veggie plate, can be boring. If you are planning a seasonal soiree this year, include nutritious snacks on the menu to keep your partygoers happy and healthy this holiday season. By making whole grains, lean meats, fruits and vegetables the focus of your snack menu, you can keep snacks' calorie count low and nutritional value high.
Crackers And Holiday Dip
Create a festive dip mixing one package of low fat cream cheese, 2 tbsp. skim milk, a half-cup of chopped fresh cranberries, a quarter-cup of chopped almonds and a quarter-cup of mandarin orange sections drained and chopped into small pieces. The fruit provides fiber, vitamin C and phytochemicals while the cheese gives your guest a calcium boost. Serve this cranberry-orange concoction with an assortment of whole grain crackers.
Zesty Pita Wedges
Slice pitas into six to eight wedges each and bake in the oven at 400 degrees F until crisp. Chop half of a small onion, 2 tomatoes and 2 cloves of garlic, then saute in olive oil for three to five minutes, or until tender. Allow the mixture to cool, then add half cup of chopped, pitted green or kalmata olives, and spoon onto the pita wedges. The monounsaturated fat from the olives and olive oil make this a heart-healthy snack while the onion, tomato and garlic provide healthy phytochemicals such as sulfurous compounds and lycopene that may help prevent cancer.
DIY Minis
Prepare platters of healthy options so that guests can make their own mini open-faced sandwiches. Provide pumpernickel, rye and whole wheat party-sized bread squares on one plate. Include a variety of low-fat cheeses, sliced thin and veggies such as Roma tomato slices, lettuce and cabbage shreds and raw onion slices. Add a meat option of deli-sliced turkey breast, full of lean protein or smoked salmon, which provides brain-boosting omega-3 fats. Serve low-calorie condiments, such as stone ground mustard, horseradish cream or homemade guacamole, on the side.
Shrimp Sensations
Shrimp can be easy to prepare when you buy it already peeled and it's full of omega-3 fats and low in calories. Simply boil shrimp for two to three minutes, then remove from water. Instead of serving shrimp with drawn butter or cocktail sauce, make a marinade using a quarter-cup lemon juice, 3 tbsp. of sauteed minced garlic and a dash of red pepper. Mix the cooked shrimp into the marinade and chill overnight before serving.
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