Add Holiday Food To Your Table Without Adding Inches To Your Waistline

The holiday meal itself is not the sole contributor of calories consumed during the holiday months. Many times appetizers are set out and arranged around the room prior to the holiday meal begins to allow guests to nibble and socialize. What we are not always aware of is how much we are really eating and the amount of calories in the appetizers we are mindlessly grabbing for and consuming. For example, an individual may grab a small plate and fill it with some crackers and cheese, mini quiches, and 2 squares of chocolate bark without realizing how many calories they are actually consuming prior to sitting down for the meal; see the breakdown below.

• Sargento cheese cubes (~1 ounce) or 7 tiny cubes: 110 calories AND 7 original Ritz crackers 110 calories
• 3 Mini Spinach and Mushroom Quiches (~1 ounce each): 230 calories
• 2 squares of Ghiradelli Chocolate Bark: 135 calories

Total calories from grazing BEFORE alcohol or dinner: 585

Your holiday gathering can still include holiday appetizers to “add to the party” without adding to your waistline. Below are some suggestions that can serve as both an appetizer and decoration at your gathering.

Dress Up Your Vegetables

Vegetables are extremely low calorie, fat free, high fiber, and cholesterol free and will cater to your dairy free, soy free, gluten free, egg free, vegetarian guests. Plus, vegetables fill you up so that you eat less during the actual meal. Consider dressing up your vegetables in either personalized shooters or in a festive arrangement. See dip suggestions below.

 

Make Your Own Dips and Dressings

Many convenient store dips are chock full of preservatives, artificial sweeteners, saturated fats, sugars, and other unneeded ingredients. Try making your own vegetable or fruit dip this holiday season! Try a ranch dip or roasted red pepper hummus with your vegetable trays. Want something sweeter? Try a Greek yogurt pumpkin spice dip with apple slices; Greek yogurt is high in protein and low in fat. Check out these recipes, as well as other dips, at healthylivingdallas.com

 

Include a variety of fruit

Fruit is a sweet treat that can replace cookies, chocolates, and other desserts at the appetizer table. Try “dressing up” the fruit instead of buying a classic fruit platter to contribute to the festive feel of your holiday party.

 

 

 

 

Think Bite Size or individual servings

Instead of leaving a big bowl of popcorn out and a cheese platter, consider providing single sized portions to your guests. Consider buying part skim or nonfat mozzarella cheese and placing a small amount between two halves of a grape tomato, lightly drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette. Add fresh basil for an amplified taste.

In place of that bowl of popcorn, portion out a small amount into a plastic cup and dress them up as snowmen! Try finding a non-GMO, organic popcorn if possible. Avoid words such as “buttery” or “sugar-coated” when choosing a popcorn.

 

Stay Hydrated

To ensure that you your guests drink plenty of water, try dressing up the bottles. Be sure to offer water as a choice when alcohol is being served so that your guests can sip a glass, or small bottle, between each drink. Not only will sipping water keep you hydrated but it will fill up space in your stomach so that you don’t overeat later.