Your guide for putting together healthy nibbles and delicious platters…
I really enjoy sharing food with others and a delicious platter is the epitome of that, I reckon. The problem is that many of the foods you commonly find on a snacking platter are really not that healthy: high saturated-fat dips, creamy cheeses, salty crackers, white bread and fatty meats. Then there are those more ‘bar-style’ platters with deep-fried everything: chips, crumbed fish bites, chicken wings and so on.
Most people don’t realise that if they share a platter in a bar before dinner, it is possible to eat more kilojoules/calories and fat than you need for not just one, but possibly two of your complete meals! Here is an example:
- 6 Sesameal crackers (over 30 per cent fat each) with slices of brie on top
- 4 slices of salami
- 2 cocktail sausages
- a handful of chips with Kiwi dip
- Total = 4540 kilojoules (1135 calories) and 84g fat (that is 21 teaspoons worth!)
It can be a real trap, particularly if you are a really social person, and all through summer this seems to be happening every second day! Below are some ideas of what you can put on your ‘healthier platter’:
Veges
- cherry tomatoes
- snow peas
- carrots
- celery
- raw or blanched and cooled broccoli and cauliflower florets
- capsicum
- courgette sticks
Fruit
- bunch of grapes
- strawberries
- blueberries
- wedges of orange and/or kiwifruit
Healthy protein
- cold, lean sliced meat
- smoked salmon
- shredded chicken chunks
- chicken kebabs
- lean meatballs with tomato chutney
- micro-mini frittatas
- dips based on pulses or yoghurt – see recipes here
Healthy fats
- raw nuts and seeds
- olives
Extras
- gherkins
- sun-dried tomatoes
- edamame beans
For more great ideas for eating well and feeling fabulous, get yourself a copy of my book, Lose Weight for Life.
www.healthyfood.com
