‘Healthy’ and ‘party’ are usually not words you see in the same sentence. Parties are not usually the places for healthy behavior.
The food at a holiday party is generally not the healthiest. Also, many ‘healthy’ alternatives to party food are plain gross. If you want to impress the whole group while keeping them skinny, here are a few recipes to try out:
Baked Chicken Wings
Chicken wings are a staple of any good party, but they can be very unhealthy. Baking them is a great way to cut down on some of the calories without losing much flavor.
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Pat the wings as dry as you can with a paper towel. This will ensure maximum crispiness. Toss them with 2 tablespoons of baking soda and your favorite seasonings. Put them in the oven and flip them every 20 minutes until crispy (about 1 hour). Toss them in your favorite low-cal wing sauce and enjoy!
Healthy Spinach and Artichoke Dip
Spinach and artichoke dip is a delicious, rich, cheesy delight. This recipe uses Greek yogurt instead of the cream cheese or mayo used in other recipes.
Cut 1.5 cups artichoke hearts into small pieces. Mix them into a bowl with 1 cup fat-free Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, 1 cup shredded low-fat mozzarella, and 1/4 cup parmesan. Put the mixture into a casserole dish and place in a 400-degree oven for 25 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips!
Grilled Shrimp Skewers
Grilled shrimp skewers are a great appetizer that is high in protein, low in calories, versatile and – most importantly – delicious. Standard cocktail shrimp are also a good option, but these add a little bit more flair.
Start by mixing 3 tablespoons olive oil with 2 table spoons of lemon juice. Season with your favorite seasonings. Marinate 1 pound of peeled, deveined shrimp for up to two hours. Put 4-6 shrimp on a skewer and grill 2-3 minutes on each side. Once the shrimp are pink and opaque, you’re good to go! Serve with or without cocktail sauce.
Zucchini Fries
Everybody loves French fries – except your waistline. Zucchini fries are a delicious and healthy alternative. They won’t taste exactly like their potato counterparts, but they’ll definitely be a hot commodity at the party.
Slice 3 zucchinis into a French fry shape and size. Pat them dry with a paper towel. In a separate bowl, combine 1/2 cups Panko, 1/3 cup flour, 1/4 cup grated parmesan, and your choice of seasonings. In another bowl, whisk together 2 eggs. Dip the fries into the egg yolk, then into the Panko mixture and place on a baking sheet. Repeat for all of the fries and then spray with cooking spray. Put the sheet into a 424-degree oven for 10 minutes, rotate the sheet, then bake for another 10 minutes. Serve with your favorite fry sauce.
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