The holiday season is often a time when food takes center stage at parties and get-togethers. This can mean you’re inundated with indulgent, heavy, and less-than-healthy food and drink options over and over again. When you’re the host or hostess, however, you have more control over what is being served – and how you serve it. If you’re looking to keep your holiday food offerings healthier, you may be surprised by how easy it is to do so while still keeping things festive and fun.

Here are 5 tips for throwing a healthier holiday party that will still draw rave reviews:

1. Make a signature drink – Create a fun and festive drink with less (or no) alcohol and sugar so your guests can get into the spirit of the season without too many calories. From cocktails to mocktails, there are plenty of ways to create enticingly healthy drinks. Muddle berries and herbs, or add fresh cucumber, mint and lime to sparkling water. Using garnishes, decorative ice and rims coated with colorful sugar, infused salts or fun sprinkles takes drinks to the next level. Give your drink a fun name to add to its mystique.
2. Offer healthier appetizers – Create a beautiful spread on your table with cut vegetables and healthy dips, such as hummus, bean dips, guacamole and salsa. Add bowls of olives, nuts or crispy chickpeas. Skewers are a fun way to serve fruit, vegetables, lean proteins or cheese. If charcuterie is your thing, consider making individual cups filled with snackable favorites. Or tap into the holiday spirit with festive appetizers like a Caprese Wreath, Christmas Pinwheels or this Holiday Dip and Veggies.
3. Keep the meal lighter – Offer leaner proteins such as fish, poultry or leaner cuts of beef. Serve plenty of veggies and don’t hide them under heavy sauces or decadent toppings. For starchy sides, use whole grains such as wild rice, quinoa or farro or serve sweet potatoes. Toss together a beautiful and colorful salad. If guests will graze and mingle, serving finger foods that are not loaded with sauces will not only be healthier but easier to eat. Some good options are skewers of meat and veggies, spring rolls, lettuce wraps, sliders, shrimp cocktail and deviled eggs.
4. Create bite-sized desserts – There’s no reason to skip the sweet treats, but don’t give people a reason to overindulge. Bite-sized cookies and pastries are portion-controlled and fun to eat. Puddings, mousses and cheesecakes can be served in shot glasses. Don’t forget fruit-based desserts like chocolate-dipped apples, mini fruit tarts or an assortment of fresh seasonal fruit.
5. Use smaller plates – The smaller the plate, the less likely it is that people will overindulge. We eat with our eyes, so people tend to fill their plates no matter what size they are. Of course, people can go back for more food, but they have to make a conscious decision to do so. This is different from mindless eating, which often happens when you fill a big plate full of food and then keep eating even if you’re no longer hungry.

These tips can help you plan a party where everyone gets into the spirit of the season without feeling weighed down or overindulging. You’ll feel good knowing you’re serving healthier fare and your guests won’t even know the difference because they’ll be too busy enjoying themselves with good company and delicious food and drinks.

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