Cut Calories at Your Party with These Healthy Appetizer Ideas

When entertaining is on your mind, look to these healthy ideas.

Healthy Food

The holidays are here, and chances are parties and party planning is on your mind. That doesn’t mean your healthy diet and lifestyle have to take a back seat, especially with healthy appetizer ideas like these from Fruits and Veggies More Matters.

The secret is adding more fruits and veggies to your party platters (restaurants have veggie-rich party platter choices, too!). These nutrient-dense, fiber-rich ingredients are naturally lower in calories and fat, making them an easy way to stay on track while you celebrate the holiday season. This is a perfect combination to make the candy bowls not quite so appealing and holiday buffets a little less scary. With which of these healthy appetizers will you wow your friends and family with this year?

  • Cucumber Bites: De-seed a cucumber and fill with tabouli, hummus, or tomato bruschetta. Slice into ½ inch pieces.
  • Crackers Reinvented: Top party rye with a thin layer of low-fat mayonnaise, a cucumber slice and a dash of lemon pepper, or spread with Tuna Vegetable Dip.
  • Easy Marinated Mushrooms: Marinate mushrooms in your favorite low-fat vinaigrette.  
  • Made-Over Melba: Top a thin slice of French bread, melba toast round, or better yet – whole grain cracker – with a thin slice of part-skim mozzarella and sun-dried tomato.

Don’t forget to round out the meal with sparkling fruit juice (seltzer + 100% fruit juice concentrate) and a healthier dessert of fruit topped with sorbet.