So many times you go to a kids birthday party or a myriad of other get-togethers and all there is to eat is junk food. Just like the name implies, it’s not good for you.
The next time you plan a party, you can make sure your guests are well served and have great options. But then again, how are you going to get healthy food at a party? Is that even possible? Well, I’m here to tell you that you can turn a regular baby shower into a cool baby shower. A normal party into an innovative one. With a little creativity, everyone will really appreciate all of the effort you put into thinking about their well being.
Have a Variety of Options
I’m not advocating that you only have healthy food. After all, what’s a party without some yummy chocolate truffles and ice cream?
I am suggesting though, to give your guests a break from the bad and serve up some great healthy alternatives. These better foods are sure to be just as big of a hit as junk food, if not bigger, especially if a lot of people are dieting the day of your event.
At parties finger foods are a must. There’s just something about them that scream ‘enjoy yourself!’ Most of the time you’ll get to the event and there will be things like chicken wings, stuffed potato skins, chips and dip, etc. Instead of going with these less than healthy options, choose more figure friendly items like fruit kabobs, pita chips and hummus, and crostini. All three are very simple and considerably better for you.
For example; when I planned a Noah’s ark theme baby shower, I wanted the food to match the theme. So although I did have some themed sugary sweets, I also had made a rainbow tray of fruit and another one out of vegetables. With a little imagination, you can tie the theme into healthy options.
Speaking of Fruit and Vegetables…
When making fruit kabobs a brilliant pairing comes in the form of tangy, tropical fruits like chunks of peaches, pineapples, and mangos stuck on bamboo skewers. You can serve them just like that, or for an extra treat throw them on the grill and serve with a cold, fresh yogurt and cheese dip. In the dip combine low fat yogurt, low fat cream cheese, lemon juice and powdered sugar and chill it.
Pita chips and hummus are just as simple to make as fruit kabobs. All you do is get pita bread, slice it into even triangles, brush it with olive oil (and herbs if you’d like) and toss it in a 400 degree oven until it is crispy and golden. For hummus, puree about 2 cups of chick peas, 3 tbs. extra virgin olive oil, and garlic, lemon juice, and tahini to taste in a food processor. For a creamier texture add a touch of water to it. This is a great base recipe for hummus. By adding extra ingredients like cumin, hot sauce, or parsley you get a totally different, yet still delicious taste.
The simplest of the three recipes is crostini. Get a loaf of crusty, day old bread (i.e. baguette or ciabatta) cut into ½in slices; top it with tomatoes and goat cheese and bake. Yummy and incredibly easy!
Other Alternatives
Ok, so sometimes a gathering needs more than just finger foods. Greek chicken salad is an extremely satisfying, healthy food that will have your guests coming back for seconds. Throw together romaine lettuce, grape tomatoes, red and yellow bell peppers, red onions, cucumbers, kalamata olives, crumbled feta cheese, and chicken; dress it with red wine vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder; Perfectly effortless and perfectly delectable.
As for beverages, you can serve a variety of fresh juices, apple cider, water, and teas. Of course, everyone will be expecting soda at the party, so definitely have them too. But prepare some juices previously and keep them cool in the fridge. Here’s a homemade lemonade recipe that will be a hit at your party.
Even sweets can be healthy if done properly. For example; if you were planning a monkey baby shower theme, you might want to have a ‘Banana Split Ice Cream Station’ set up in your back yard. So instead of using M&Ms and other candies, you can have pieces of fruit cut and placed in a variety of bowls for guests to serve themselves. Use different flavored low fat or fat free ice cream. Crustless cheesecake can replace brownies that are packed with carbs and sugar.
Every junk food has an alternative, you just have to find it. By changing your point of view, you can definitely discover unlimited ideas for healthy eating, even at a party. Now, what goes hand in hand with being healthy? Being green and saving money. Here’s a post about throwing an eco friendly birthday party that will give you tips to reduce waste at the party as much as possible. You also want to save money, so you might want to check out this post about throwing an affordable baby shower. using reusable/recyclable objects and buying as many of the food items as possible from local sources. Have fun being healthy and being green!
#1 Nice to meet you!
