How do you handle entertaining!

We entertain ALL summer on our boat. All we do is eat and drink. What are your ideas for healthy snacks to have instead of the usual chips and dip and cheese platters? Also, what about healthy side dishes to go with BBQ?

Re: How do you handle entertaining!

BBQ can be healthy - just have some leaner burgers or turkey burgers, hold the bun and grill up some veggies.

I love all kinds of summer salads - cucumber salads, bean salads, etc.

Instead of chips and dips, do veggies, hummus, make lighter dips with yogurt.

Re: How do you handle entertaining!

Veggies w/ hummus or Greek yogurt dip. Turkey/ chicken burgers on a bed of lettuce.

For side dishes you can make a healthy version of broccoli slaw, mixed grilled veggies with balsamic. Quinoa & veggie tabbouleh type dish. Skinny macaroni salad made with quinoa pasta.

Re: How do you handle entertaining!

We entertain a lot, too!

Sometimes I find when I am hosting and cooking I actually eat less!

But I think summer is also a time of year when there is so much fresh produce, and grilling meats is a pretty healthy way to prepare them. So it's not as hard as other times of year.

I agree that you can definitely lighten up a lot of dips, and some are naturally healthy and lighter (tomato based salsa, black bean and corn salsa, etc.). I try to serve some veggies (like celery sticks) as well as chips with dips.

We usually do a platter of grilled veggies (red peppers, portabello mushrooms, Vidalia onions, eggplant, etc.) when we grill. Corn on the cob is also good.

I always try to include some sort of fresh salad along with the other types of traditional sides.

The meats we grill are usually leaner cuts of beef or we do chicken. Also we do a lot of seafood on the grill. I buy salmon skewers, or make shrimp kabobs. Sometimes my DH will get fresh clams that we steam on the grill. Very light and delicious.

I try to do portion control and load up more on veggies. Or choose what I really want (have a hamburger or hot dog, not both!).

As far as drinking, I actually like that we host a lot, because I can have more calorie-friendly drink options... for example, I love gin and tonics, but I buy the diet tonic. Last summer we grew a lot of mint and made mojitos, but I would often cut the sugar in mine or make it with splenda. I also love white wine and sparkling wine in the summer, but again, just try to enjoy the whole experience of sitting outside, relaxing, and not just guzzling!

For desserts - I always have a fruit salad, and I often buy portion controlled treats (e.g., Carvel makes really mini sundae cups that are fun and everyone loves, but not too heavy).

How do you handle entertaining!

i'm going to repeat a lot of what's been said

summer is a great time to eat better!
ethnic foods are an awesome way to eat healthy

* hummus and veggies
* salsa, guac, even refried beans (made with no oil) are all healthy
* caprese salad... mmmm

lots of fruits and veggies are in season

* grilled veggies are a wonderful substitute for meats or a wonderful, filling side: eggplant, red peppers, green peppers, onions, potatoes etc

as far as desserts: fruit cobblers are a great fake decadent dessert. fill the casserole dish with blue berries, strawberries, raspberries etc and then top with yellow cake mix and bake... DONE. you can easily remove the topping and just eat the baked fruit. you can easily serve this with ice cream or cream... again, without the dairy it's just fruit.

another dessert i like to make: strawberry "shortcake" trifle... use angel food cake instead of a heavier/denser cake. cut into cubes and layer in the trifle: cake, strawberries, cream (can use any "lighter" cream of your choice. keep layering until you reach the top. finish with the cream on top and garnish with a few strawberries

i can't help with the booze because i don't really drink

How do you handle entertaining!

I pout put healthy options and some treats but just enough so there aren't any or much leftovers. I just don't eat the treats

Re: How do you handle entertaining!

i would put out veggies, and a salad, eat those on the side instead of chips, etc. For instance last night we grilled and I ate a 85% lean burger and a side salad and still stayed within my points (i am on WW). Or if you want a treat then i would just eat a small portion. so it is definitely doable!