Healthy hosting
Healthy eating and great entertaining can go hand in hand when you have a few delicious tricks up your sleeve.
Appetizers, tapas, hors d’oeuvres — whatever you want to call them, small bites are a great way to help control portions while putting big flavor on the plate. Here are some ideas for a small bites menu that will leave guests so satisfied they might not even realize just how good they’re really eating.
• Raid the farmers market. Fresh produce looks, smells and tastes fantastic. Set out a colorful veggie tray, some berry skewers with a Greek yogurt and honey dip, and a bright caprese salad. You can even make a beautiful centerpiece with fragrant citrus in a pretty bowl.
— Make your own dips. When you make it yourself, you can control what goes in it. Try making a black bean salsa, fresh guacamole, savory hummus, or your own olive tapenade. You can adjust recipes for a lower fat content or lower sodium and still make sure they taste great.
• Embrace whole grains. From bruschetta breads and grain-based salads to crunchy dippers and ingredients in heartier recipes, whole grains add great taste and good nutrition.
These party-friendly recipes use the natural whole grain goodness of bread to put a delicious spin on some traditional favorites, while also adding good-for-you complex carbohydrates and fiber.
