Most party foods are high in fat, sugar or sodium, but this doesn't have to be the case the next time you have people over. Prepare recipes that offer a variety of flavors but with lower fat, and you'll have everyone wanting more. Sometimes all it takes is a simple substitution. Experiment by swapping out with lower fat ingredients, and you might discover you don't miss the unhealthy fats.
Baked Tortilla Chips
Baked corn tortilla chips come in all shapes for party foods. Fill baked, bowl-shaped tortilla chips with jalapeno pepper slices, fat-free beans and low fat cheese. Top flat baked tortilla triangles with fat free sour cream or plain yogurt and low fat shredded cheese. Provide a bowl of fat free salsa for dipping.
Vegetables and Dip
Most vegetables are fat free or very low in fat. If you provide low fat dip, most guests won't know the difference, unless you tell them. Provide a variety of crisp, raw vegetables, such as carrots, celery, broccoli, zucchini, bell peppers, cucumber and cauliflower.
Yogurt is an excellent substitute for sour cream, or you may choose low fat sour cream for the base. The consistency of yogurt is slightly runnier, but when mixed with other ingredients, the flavors are similar. Some ingredients you can mix and match include chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, crab seasoning and Italian seasoning.
Many salad dressings come in a low fat version and are easy because all you have to do is pour them from the bottle into serving bowls. Delicious dipping dressings include ranch style, Catalina and thousand island.
Wrapped Meat Appetizers
If your guests are meat lovers, you may want to offer them a variety of wrapped meat appetizers. Start out with thin-sliced, lean ham and turkey from the deli and wrap strips of it around low fat cheese, olives or vegetables. Olives have some fat, but it's the type that's healthy for the heart. Secure the wrapped meat with toothpicks and serve them on a large serving platter with a low fat barbecue or teriyaki sauce for dipping.
Fruit and Dip
Choose fresh strawberries, melon and apple slices that have been washed in lemon juice to prevent them from browning. Make a delicious dip with low fat yogurt and sugar-free preserves or honey. Add a few drops of all natural vanilla for extra flavor.
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