There's always a need for great party food ideas. Birthdays, dinner parties, work parties, award show parties...there's always an excuse to partake in some festive eating and drinking
...and then more eating and drinking.
But you can relax. There's no need to worry that those extra calories will translate into extra pounds the next time you dare to step on the scale. All you need is the proper attitude and some proven strategies that will help keep your calories-in, calories-out equation more balanced.
You also need some great festive and flavorful food ideas!
Plan An Oscar-Themed Menu…courtesy of CookingLight
Why not share some movie-themed treats with your guests?
Such as…
Fried Catfish with Hush Puppies and Tartar Sauce (as inspired by Beasts of the Southern Wild)?
The fiercest little girl you’ve ever seen, lead character Hushpuppy—a role which earned 9-year old Quvenzhané Wallis an Oscar nomination—goes on an unexpected journey after a devastating storm hits her home in Louisiana.
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Mississippi Mud Pie (as inspired by Django Unchained)?
All is fair in love and war, at least as far as Django is concerned in this tale of slavery and heartbreak. In honor of his journey to Mississippi to rescue his wife, we deem this Mississippi Mud Pie to be the perfect dessert to celebrate such a wonderful film.
Apple-Toffee Hand Pies (as inspired by Lincoln)
Known for being a simple eater and avoiding foods with much frill, Lincoln enjoyed snacking on apples, and we love that these individual apple pies are simple, tasty, and easy to serve at a large Oscar gathering.
For more great ideas, and for the amazingly-delicious (and shockingly-healthier) recipes, visit CookingLight.
Shrimp Cocktail Shooter: Take a shot glass (or other type of beverage glass) rimmed with your favorite seasoning, fill with spicy tomato juice or cocktail sauce, then top with a piece of cooked shrimp and a lettuce stalk/green onions.
Salmon Bagel Bites: Toast mini bagels, spread with your choice of reduced-fat cream cheese, top with fresh salmon, and garnish with a dollop of cream cheese and scallions.
Salmon Lettuce Wraps: Place sliced salmon, cucumbers and sun dried tomato onto fresh lettuce leaves. Serve with reduced-sodium soy sauce or another asian-inspired sauce.
Cheesy Baked Mushrooms: Fill mushroom caps with your choice of reduced-fat cheese, breadcrumbs, bacon bits and chopped onion. Drizzle with olive oil and heat (either in the microwave or in a conventional oven) until softened.
Mini Chicken & Waffle Bites: Toast mini waffles (preferably whole wheat). Top with small pieces of freshly-prepared oven-fried chicken, then drizzle with a tablespoon with maple syrup.
Spiced & Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Toss pumpkin seeds, a tablespoon of olive oil, a pinch of salt, several dashes of hot sauce and a teaspoon of chili powder. Bake at 350° until crisp.
Baked Sweet Potato Chips: Thinly slice potatoes, place in a single layer on a cookie sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle salt and pepper (or try experimenting with other favorite seasonings), and bake.
Mini Fish & Coleslaw Tacos: Bake your favorite fish. Cut tortillas into small pieces and bake. To servie, put a piece of fish on top of a tortilla and garnish with coleslaw mix, a dollop of salsa and a wedge of lime.
Turkey Roll-Ups: Spread a layer of softened cream cheese on sliced smoked turkey breast and top with thinly sliced tomato and spinach leaves. Roll up and cut into 1-inch pieces.
Buffalo Popcorn: Toss air-popped popcorn with olive oil, a little hot sauce and a handful of crumbled blue cheese to season.
Spicy Cucumbers: Marinate sliced cucumbers in hot and sour sauce for 2 hours.
Mango (or Pineapple) Salsa: Mix chopped pineapple with prepared salsa. Serve with whole wheat or blue corn tortilla chips.
Candied Apple Slices: Boil a cup of apple cider until it's syrupy, then stir in chopped walnuts. Drizzle over green and/or red apple slices.
Banana-Nutella Shortbread Cookies: Spread Nutella on a shortbread cookie, then top with sliced bananas and sprinkle with walnuts.
Chocolate-Dipped Fruit: Melt bittersweet or semi-chocolate, then dip in your choice of fresh fruit. Let chill on waxed paper prior to serving.
Remember: Your Brain is Your Best Ally
You probably already know the basic tricks: Drink water or eat an apple before heading out to a party. Or say, "No, thank you," nicely but firmly.
"Perspective is key during the holiday season," said Jeannie Moloo, a registered dietitian in Roseville, Calif., and an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman. "Focus on maintaining a healthy weight, not on losing."
Keep that focus when you're faced with a huge buffet. Don't deprive yourself, but don't give free rein to your impulses, either. For example, you can enjoy everything, but cut it by a third. Instead of having three cookies, have two. Instead of a two-inch slice of pie, try for about a one-and-a-half inch slice.
Remember: Portion Control, Patience and Preparation
If you know you'll be tempted with endless party buffets or tables full of family favorites, refresh your memory ahead of time about proper portion sizes, Moloo said.
"Portion size is key to managing weight, especially during the holidays," Moloo said. "A few tips to keep in mind: Keep protein servings [such as your meat dish] to the size of the palm of your hand. Your fat choice—for instance butter, sour cream, salad dressing—should be no larger than twice your thumbnail. One cupped hand is a serving of rice or pasta, and a baseball is the size of a potato." Any more, and you're overdoing it.
