Classic Appetizers Made Healthy

[caption id="attachment_830640" align="alignleft" width="1068"] Bigstockphoto.com/7 Layer Bean Dip shot made in studio
** Note: Shallow depth of field[/caption] It’s that time of year when everybody is firing up their barbecues, heating up their pools and opening up their backyard for parties and cookouts every weekend. Part of the reason people feel happier in the summer is because summer is a social time! But socializing usually means eating—overeating, to be precise. You’re mingling, you’re drinking, and before you know it, you’ve had half a family-size bag of chips with bean dip all to yourself and the burgers aren’t even ready yet. If you live for the appetizers at parties, then you’ll just have to learn how to make them healthy, so you don’t end the summer season looking like the pigs in the blankets you gorged on. Here are classic appetizers, healthified (yes, we coined a new term). So you won’t feel like you’re missing out. [caption id="attachment_830641" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphotos.com/Child hands washing fresh vegetables for a healthy salad - the red bell pepper under the water stream of the kitchen sink, shallow depth[/caption]

Veggie chip nachos

The toppings on nachos aren’t generally that bad (unless you’re a sour cream fiend), but the chips on the bottom bring in the empty calories. Try using little baked bell pepper triangles in place of the chips. You can also use zucchini slices, sweet potato slices…any veggie you like.               [caption id="attachment_830642" align="alignleft" width="563"] Bigstockphoto.com/Traditional latinamerican mexican sauce guacamole in clay bowl and avocado sandwiches on dark background. Top view[/caption]

Veggie-loaded guacamole

Avocado is great for you—in moderation. Help moderate yourself by using half the avocados you normally would, and instead, blending in finely chopped up cucumbers to add volume. You can also blend in smashed up white beans to add creaminess and fiber.               [caption id="attachment_830643" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Chicken or turkey and vegetables cooked spicy skewers put on a board ready to be served as summer party meal view from above space for a text[/caption]

Skewers

Skewers can be healthy or very unhealthy, depending on what you put on them. Skip the ones loaded with steak and instead try chicken, bell peppers, and zucchini, or feta cheese, tomatoes and cucumbers for a Greek salad-style skewer.               [caption id="attachment_830644" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/unrecognizable person holding a paper bag of freash geen beans[/caption]

String bean “fries”

If you haven’t had panko-covered baked string bean “fries” with sriracha, you haven’t lived. You won’t miss regular potato French fries after having these.               [caption id="attachment_830645" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Tasty pizza with cheese and pepperoni slices, closeup[/caption]

Pepperoni cups

Instead of pizza bagel bites or mini personal pizzas, try this: bake large pepperonis until they curl up into little cup shapes. Fill these with low-fat mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. Then you can skip the carbs of the crust.               [caption id="attachment_717494" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Buffalo cauliflower

If you take your favorite buffalo sauce that you’d typically put on chicken wings and toss it over baked cauliflower, you’ll be in heaven. And you’ll get plenty of vegetable points, without consuming too many calories.             [caption id="attachment_830646" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Sope queso with chips and chilli on a wooden background[/caption]

Vegan queso dip

Queso dip is hard to stop eating once you start. And that’s a problem for your waistline. Instead of using traditional queso cheese, purchase cashew-based nacho cheese from your local health food store, and mix in the other usual ingredients like scallions and jalapeno peppers. It’s lower in calories and adds protein points.             [caption id="attachment_830647" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Potato chips and bowl of onion dip isolated on white background.[/caption]

Onion dip

Typically made with sour cream, this sweet and savory dip can bring in a lot of calories. Try making it with Greek yogurt, instead, to add protein points and substantially cut back on the calories.               [caption id="attachment_830648" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/A tomato stuffed with Spinach Artichoke Parmesan Dip on a party plate of crackers[/caption]

Artichoke dip

This recipe usually calls for mayonnaise, parmesan cheese, and artichokes. It’s another one that could benefit from swapping in Greek yogurt for your creamy base. Blend in some steamed kale for more fiber, too.               [caption id="attachment_716700" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Butterbean dip

Traditional bean dip uses a whole lot of cream cheese and refried beans. You can make an equally tasty dip using butter beans, lemon juice, garlic, paprika, and cumin.               [caption id="attachment_830649" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/tow of three mini turkey burger sliders with brioche buns[/caption]

Sliders on sweet potato buns

Sliders seem so harmless with their teeny, tiny buns. But that’s why you end up eating six of them, and having more bread than you would have on one normal-size burger. Instead of mini buns, use thick slices of baked sweet potatoes, gently fried in olive oil to give them texture.           [caption id="attachment_697875" align="alignleft" width="420"] Image Source: Shutterstock[/caption]

Sweet potato skins

Sweet potatoes come to the rescue again! Loaded with vitamins and fiber, this orange potato provides a healthy base for your potato skins. Then fill those up with black beans, broccoli, and a little cheddar cheese.               [caption id="attachment_830650" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Pile of Deep fried battered onion rings[/caption]

Bran onion rings

The only real problem with onion rings is that batter. So make your own, healthy variety with bran! Once you’ve baked them and dipped them in ketchup and barbecue sauce, you won’t notice that your batter is healthy.             [caption id="attachment_830651" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Corn Dog in the Sky with Mustard![/caption]

Corn dog bites

The traditional corn dog has few redeeming qualities. It’s made with mystery meat and too much bread. Try corn dog bites, made with gluten free flour (and minimize the bread in these) and turkey dogs.             [caption id="attachment_830652" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/jalapeno poppers[/caption]

Lighter jalapeno poppers

The jalapenos are good for you; what’s in them isn’t. Make a healthy variety with Greek yogurt, low-fat cream cheese, and mayo. You won’t miss the cream cheese.                 [caption id="attachment_830653" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Baked mushrooms stuffed with spinach and cheese[/caption]

Green-stuffed mushrooms

Mushrooms go from healthy to unhealthy when you stuff them with cream cheese. So stuff yours with pesto, spinach, and a little goat cheese. They’re far tastier than the original kind.               [caption id="attachment_830654" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Homemade Mexican 7 Layer Dip with Beans Sour Cream and Guacamole[/caption]

Seven-layer dip cups

It’s easy to lose track of how much seven-layer dip you have. So make yours in small tortilla cups. Leave out or at least go easy on the sour cream and cheddar cheese. And instead of refried beans, use whole black beans that you hand-mash.               [caption id="attachment_830655" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/Homemade Sweet Potato Tater Tots with Ketchup[/caption]

Sweet potato tots

Sweet potato tots are truly tastier than white potato tots, and they boast more nutrition. Rather than frying these, just bake them, sprinkle with some olive oil and sea salt.               [caption id="attachment_830656" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphoto.com/A plate of mozzarella sticks with marinara sauce.[/caption]

Baked mozzarella sticks

Mozzarella sticks taste just as good baked—if not better. Make yours with panko breadcrumbs or bran (like you did with those onion rings) for a healthier batter.               [caption id="attachment_830657" align="alignleft" width="420"] Bigstockphotos.com/Homemade Mexican Beef Taquitos with Cilantro and Salsa[/caption]

Baked taquitos

Taquitos are another appetizer that don’t need to go in the fryer. Stuff yours to the brim with chicken so people fill up on the protein, and don’t need to go back for too many.

The post Classic Appetizers Made Healthy appeared first on MadameNoire.