Attending dinner parties is amazing, particularly when accompanied by friends. It is a fun time to enjoy with guests. It is not easy to eat healthy at dinner parties due to extreme amount of small bite appetizers, large portioned meals and wide range of dessert plates to choose from and possibly the extra amount of booze. There is a massive need for healthier food around. Here are some steps to be considered to host a dinner party and make your friends and guests enjoy the party. These steps if followed do not make your guests feel guilty after consuming the food.
1. Make it fresh and simple
It would be healthier to keep the foods closer to you to serve them. You can start with wholesome fresh ingredients. Start with appetizers and wine for at least one hour. Appetizer plate should include fresh vegetables that you have cleaned, peeled and sliced into pieces. Do not forget to include peas, carrot, mushrooms and bell peppers served with healthy bean or non fat yogurt dips and whole wheat crackers without cheese.
2. Knowing ingredients
Be sure of the ingredients you are using in your dishes. Be thorough with the food history. Learn different ways to use the food. Share your cooking ideas with your guests. Everyone seems to have their own style of cooking food. This is another approach of making a healthy dinner party fun.
3. Serve on smaller plates
Dinner parties generally include many courses, that is, from appetizers to desserts and the dishes are generally served on many different sizes. As big plates occupy large portions it is wise to downsize the plates. This makes the guests aware of their consumption when they help themselves to a second serve.
4. Prepare healthy salads
Salads were known to be a healthy meal, but in modern days due to the introduction of toppings such as cheese, candied pecans, high calorie dressings, etc., a salad may prove to be unhealthy. Hence, avoid high calorie, pre-bottled dressings loaded with sodium and sugar and prepare your own dressing with fresh ingredients. For example, use additional virgin olive oil and a drop of balsamic vinegar.
5. Keep creative desserts
Although you are hosting a healthy dinner party, you should not skip the dessert course. Making use of fruit and homemade whipped cream is a better option than serving ice creams, cookies and cake brought from store.
6. Concentrate on spices
To make a food item healthier, you must compensate the lack of butter, oil, cream, etc., with spices and herbs. This trick works wonderful as long as you know how to combine them properly.
7. Serve your food in courses
You can serve each individual course with sufficient amount of time in between. This creates the effect of fullness, thus making the guests consume less. Many studies have proved that one who eats slowly feels full fast.
8. Keep the food colorful
Include three or more different colors in your meal. This enhance the brightness of the room and contribute to the decor. Moreover, you are providing your dinner party guest with a variety of vitamins and minerals. You can try the inclusions of colored fruits.
9. Vegetarian or non vegetarian
Go through your guest list and decide what type of food your guest relish. If you are planning for non vegetarian, you can prefer meat, chicken or fish for the main course. A healthy way of serving meat or chicken is with a fruit salsa which can be made on your own or purchased.
10. Nuts and dry fruits
Keep a small bowl of nuts and dried fruits. There are a large number of ideas you can incorporate to enhance your healthy eating theme.
11. Soups
Studies reveal that consuming soups makes you fuller and faster and stops you from the extra intake. Soups are also an easy way to set the extra veggies in to your meal.
12. Do not skip on beverages
Include a variety of beverages such as coffee, tea, water, milk, wine, beer and soft drinks. Let people make their choice.
13. Keep containers for leftovers
Provide your guests with take home containers. They would not be forced to over eat, which can be unhealthy. After going back home they will be reminded of the sweet moments they had.