Parties are seen as a welcome time to indulge, but just because you’re feeling festive and celebratory doesn’t mean that your waistline should suffer, especially when there are so many other deliciously healthy party snacks available. Making a commitment to yourself to eat right and watch your caloric intake shouldn’t get thrown to the wayside just because of a social event. But for a good party you need more options. Fortunately, many favourite party snacks can be made in a relatively healthy manner so long as you pick healthy ingredients. Remember that the secret to healthy cooking is in choosing the right ingredients

1: Change your drinking habits

Choose alcohol-free drinks on arrival e.g. Spritzers made with sparkling water and cranberry (or other fresh juices). Have beautiful glass jugs fi lled with mineral water and fresh strawberries/berries/cucumber/orange slices and crushed ice available. Reduce your alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol lowers your inhibitions – making you more likely to make poor food choices. Enjoy a drink, but alternate with a glass of mineral water or a diet soda – you’ll wake up feeling much better the following day.

2: Nuts

You might be accustomed to shying away from the nuts since they are high in fat, but nuts are full of the good kind of fat – unsaturated. Unsaturated fats help promote healthy hair, skin and nails, nourishing them from the inside out. Rather than snacking on greasy chips, grab a handful of nuts – they’ll also keep you satisfi ed longer. Nuts are a heart-healthy snack choice. Roasted almonds are a great source of magnesium and vitamin E, while pecans and other nuts are rich in monounsaturated fat. Look for raw, unsalted or lightly salted varieties of your favourite nuts. If time allows, roast your own with your favourite seasonings.

3: Raw Veggies

The veggie tray is always a hit at any party! No matter what kind of veggie you love, you’ll most likely fi nd it on the veggie tray. If you’re hosting the party, get creative and blanch asparagus, green beans and other greens for tasty dippers. Vegetables are full of nutrients and water, low in calories and 100% fat-free. But watch out for those calorie-loaded party dips!

4: Healthy Party Dips

Speaking of calorie-rich party dips, get some great alternatives. Instead of mayonnaise, sour cream or cream cheese based dips, reach for the hummus (blended chickpeas), Bulgarian yoghurt with fresh herbs or fresh salsa. They’re not just tasty but also loaded with good nutrients and low in calories and fat.

5: Tomato Juice

If you’re not the type who likes to eat your vegetables, drink them instead! You can get one or more servings of vegetables in a glass of tomato juice, and it’s a low-fat, low-calorie drink. And, if you must have a cocktail, try a Bloody Mary for the tomato juice benefi t, and don’t forget to munch on the celery!

6: Feast on Fruit

Chances are, whichever party you’re at, there’ll be desserts – and tons of them! Fixing an aching sweet tooth is as easy as reaching for the fresh fruit. Just like veggies, fresh fruit is fi bre and nutrientdense, full of water and low in calories and fat – and they’ll help fi ll you up before the main courses, which are often the fattiest. Serve them sliced, as kebabs or as a frozen fruit ice. Frozen grapes can also be used as an alternative for ice…

7: Fish

You might not think of serving fi sh at your party, but it really does make for a fancy and nutritious treat. Try mini sushi rolls for an oriental twist or smoked salmon pieces to really light up your table. Both are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, an essential fat that is lacking in the typical Western diet.

8: Air popped popcorn

It’s the perfect snack for those of you who need to constantly be handling food. One cup of air popped popcorn has only 30 calories and provides more than one gram of fi bre. Just don’t slather on the butter, because this healthconscious snack will quickly become waistline-sabotaging.

9: Angel Cake

Forget the really rich and dense cakes and opt instead for angel cake – a light and fl uffy variety of cake that is low in fat and high in fl avour. For an even tastier angel food cake, top your slice with fresh fruit like strawberries, fresh berries, sorbet or exotic fruits such as mango, papaya and kiwi and a low-calorie whipped topping e.g. ‘Lite’ Evaporated milk. If you choose well, you can literally have your cake and eat it, too!

10: Fruit flavoured water

OK, so this drink doesn’t sounds that festive for a party, but it’s a tasty alternative to water, and not nearly as bland. Add fresh fruit/vegetables e.g. strawberries, blueberries, sliced pineapple/oranges to a jug of mineral water and crushed ice. Add mint leaves. This will look pretty, quench your thirst and replenish any water lost from drinking alcohol or caffeinated beverages. Drinking water is great for you and doesn’t have the calories of other party drinks. Any queries: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• Baked tortilla chips with a tomato, onion and fresh herb salsa and Guacamole (avo, fresh garlic and lemon juice) 
• Mini pizzas go down well too. Rather than buy them, make them yourself on crispy toasted bread. Use a spicy salsa and keep the toppings healthy. Sorry, that does mean avoiding pepperoni. 
• Reduce the fat in creamy dressings or dips by using low-fat or fat-free yoghurt instead of sour cream or mayonnaise. Offer hummus as a low-fat spread for crackers and vegetables. 
• Use non-stick cookware so you can cook with a minimum amount of oil or use a low-calorie vegetable spray. 
• Use fl avoured vinegars or lemon juice to enhance the fl avour of a salad without adding fat. Or fi ll a spray bottle with oil and vinegar so your guests can lightly mist their salads with just enough flavour.
• Use low-fat milk and cheese in recipes instead of fullfat varieties. Fat free cottage cheese is a healthy, fat free alternative as a dip as well. Add fresh chillies to spice up the flavour. 
• Choose baked over fried every time. Whether preparing a meat dish or your famous nuggets, baked foods are always the better choice. 
• Instead of bowls full of pretzels or potato chips, offer your guests a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. Break out of the carrot sticks and celery routine with an Asian-style vegetable platter of baby corn, snow peas and fresh bean sprouts drizzled in a low-fat sesame dressing. For another interesting variation, try a south western theme of fresh salsa, black beans and corn served in half a red pepper.

Thoughtful and versatile gifts for any occasion. Put together the appropriate accessories and add a personal note with the words: 

• An eraser, to make your problems disappear
• A coin, so you can say you are never broke 
• A marble, so no one can say you’ve lost yours 
• A rubber band, so that you can stretch yourself 
• A paperclip, to hold things together when they fall apart 
• A magnifying glass, remember to not sweat the small stuff