Whenever I host a party or have people over I try to serve appies & snacks that I consider healthy choices. Not only because I care about the health of my family & friends, but I also want to share the knowledge! Here are some of my favourite snacks that I like to serve:
Chips
I love chips, but not the kind that are full of hydrogenated vegetable oil & trans fats. Here’s some good news – there are healthy choices for chips out there! Some of my favourite brands are organic, made with non-GMO corn, are kettle-cooked or sprouted and still taste great. You can buy most of these brands at Superstore, Whole Foods, Pusateri’s, Costco, and Winners (they have a great specialty food aisle!).
Note: even though I consider these healthy snack choices, they are still chips, and should be enjoyed as a once-in-a-while treat!
Dips
Salsa is always a healthy choice. It’s full of flavor, you get all the health benefits of tomatoes (antioxidant lycopene), and it’s low in fat & calories (my favourite salsa is the organic brand from Costco – just the right amount of spice).
Other healthy dip options include hummus (you can make it using chick peas, white beans or black beans), guacamole (try this lightened version made with zucchini), or pesto.
Pesto is amazing because you can make any variation you like:
1. Choose a leafy green like kale, spinach, or arugala
2. Choose a seed or nut like walnuts, pine nuts, pumpkin or hemp seeds
3. Choose a healthy oil like extra virgin olive oil, avocado oil, or walnut oil
4. Combine in a food processor with lemon juice, garlic and salt & pepper, and voila! You have yourself a majorly healthy, flavor-packed dip, spread or pizza sauce.
Nibblees
When I’m hosting a party, I like to put little bowls of snacks around my apartment so no matter where you’re standing there’s always something to snack on. I like to fill bowls with healthy nuts such as pistachios, roasted almonds or cashews. You can also do something a bit more unique and fill a bowl with roasted chick peas or homemade sesame sticks.
If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party or bringing a snack to a friend’s party, than consider one of these healthy choices, and start 2013 off on the right foot!
Happy New Year!!
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