By Chef Meg Galvin, Healthy Cooking Expert at SparkPeople.com
Holiday parties can be a calorie minefield. Mini quiches, chicken wings, cheese platters--and dips laden with mayo are common this time of year.
It's easy to eat an entire meal's worth--or even a day's worth--of fat and calories without ever picking up a fork or a plate.
When you're talking and standing in front of the food, it's easy to forget to be mindful of your eating, but when you serve lighter fare, your risk of sabotaging your calorie budget is reduced.
I created five new recipes that have fewer than 100 calories--and a sixth one that has only 113 calories! Serve these recipes at your office party, neighborhood potluck, or game night alongside a huge platter of fruits and vegetables. Even better news: These are all quick and easy recipes that anyone can make!
Prosciutto Lettuce Bites (20 calories, 1 g fat)
Pumpkin Dip (32 calories, 2 g fat)
Easy Cucumber Cups (27 calories, 1 g fat)
Mini Taco Cups (60 calories, 1 g fat)
Festive Polenta Rounds (41 calories, 2 g fat)
Deviled Eggs (85 calories, 6 g fat)
Wilted Lemon Lettuce and Beef Bruschetta (113 calories, 4 g fat)
Looking for more party resources and recipes? Try these:
- 11 more healthy appetizers
- 12 healthy game-day recipes
- My favorite 7-layer fiesta dip
- 10 tips to keep from overeating at a party
Will you be hosting or attending any holiday parties this year?
About the author: SparkPeople Healthy Cooking Expert Meg Galvin is a World Master Chef, culinary instructor, and the author of "The SparkPeople Cookbook: Love Your Food, Lose the Weight." A farmer's daughter and marathon runner, she lives in northern Kentucky with her husband and three teenage sons.
