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Healthy hosting

These Raspberry Hazelnut Truffle Toast Bites will fill your sweet craving without the guilt.
Party-friendly recipes are big on flavor, not calories

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.

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