Healthy Holiday Entertaining
posted by Darlene DeWitt, MS, RD, LD on Wednesday, December 11, 2024
The holiday season is upon us, and that usually means more get togethers with friends and family. Are you looking for ways that you can survive the holiday party season without packing on a few extra pounds or the post party bloat? Whether you are hosting or attending, there are some easy tricks to making holiday parties just a little bit lighter.
I am definitely a fan of party trays—people get to take what they like and these are usually very simply prepared foods without a lot of extra ingredients to pump up the fat and calories.
Offering fruit and veggie trays among your other foods can help your guests go light if they are also going to multiple parties on the same day.
By using low fat sour cream and an olive oil based mayo in this dip recipe, we cut the calories and fat, but still have a wonderfully tasty dip!
Dill Pickle Dip
(yields 1 1/3 cup; 8 servings)
½ cup low fat sour cream
1/3 cup olive-oil mayonnaise
½ cup chopped dill pickles
2 TBSP minced onion
2 TBSP finely chopped fresh dill
1 TBSP dill pickle juice
¼ tsp ground pepper
Stir together all ingredients and chill at least an hour before serving.
Nutrition per 2 ½ tbsp.: 50 calories, 5 gm fat, 1 gm sat fat, 1 gm carbohydrates, 161 mg sodium
Offer up some whole grains. If you have trays of cheese and crackers or a charcuterie board, offer Triscuits, wheat thins or Kashi as options for crackers.
Charcuterie boards are the upscale platter and are definitely in style right now for parties. Focus on fruit/veggie and cheese/crackers and use less processed meats on your board. You can add great textures and colors with a variety of healthier options.
a. Dried apricots, dates, fresh grapes, pomegranates, kiwi
b. Cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, peppers, sugar snap peas, carrots
c. Walnuts, seeds, cashews, almonds
d. Roasted chickpeas, hummus
e. Laughing Cow light wedges, Babybel light cheese wheels, swiss or provolone
f. Multi-seed Crunchmaster crackers, Triscuits, Wheat Thins, whole wheat cocktail crackers
Consider offering a variety of drinks, including mocktails. Often, if people aren’t drinking their only option is water—so its nice to have a fun non-alcoholic option!
The Ultimate Holiday Mocktail
Ingredients
2 cups freshly-squeezed blood orange juice
(That's about 3-4 large blood oranges)
1 cup freshly-squeezed orange juice
1 grapefruit, freshly-squeezed
1 lemon, freshly-squeezed
½ cup Agave
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
fizz drink, to top (You can use ginger beer, seltzer water, etc.)
Garnish:
Whole cranberries
Sliced strawberries
Sliced orange, blood orange, and/or grapefruit wedges
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Instructions:
In a pitcher, put together the blood orange juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, lemon juice, Agave, and cinnamon, stirring everything together until combined.
Assemble the mocktails: For each drink, fill an 8-ounce glass halfway with crushed ice. Add ½ cup of the mocktail mixture and garnish with sliced fruit and a rosemary sprig. Top with ginger beer or some kind of frizzy drink until the glass is filled.
Sip and Enjoy!
**Healthier version: You can use a Trop 50 or light orange juice as well as a Healthy Balance brand diet juice to reduce the carbs and sugars in this recipe
Nutrition Information: 204 calories, 50 gm carbohydrates, 2 gm protein, 1 gm fat
Offering mocktails at your holiday party is an excellent way to ensure that all guests feel included and catered to, regardless of their preferences or dietary restrictions. Whether someone is abstaining from alcohol for health, religious, or personal reasons, mocktails provide a festive and thoughtful alternative. These non-alcoholic drinks can be crafted with the same care and creativity as traditional cocktails, featuring fresh ingredients, vibrant flavors, and eye-catching presentations. Including mocktails on your beverage menu shows a commitment to inclusivity, making every guest feel valued and part of the celebration.
Mocktails are not only practical but also incredibly trendy. With the rise of the "sober curious" movement and a growing focus on wellness, more people are seeking sophisticated non-alcoholic options that deliver on flavor and style. Bars and restaurants around the world have embraced this trend, offering curated mocktail menus that rival their alcoholic counterparts. Featuring mocktails at your holiday party allows you to stay ahead of the curve and impress your guests with stylish, Instagram-worthy drinks that everyone can enjoy. From artisanal sodas to herb-infused elixirs, mocktails are redefining what it means to celebrate with a drink in hand.