‘Tis the season to host or go to parties. Whether it is a potluck dinner party or a dinner at a restaurant, odds are you might overeat or make choices you normally would not make. It may help to prep your thoughts a little bit before going.
USDA gives us these tips to set yourself up to make healthy choices.
Prioritize your plate. Take a quick lap around the food table to see what foods are available before filling your plate. If you are at a restaurant, think about what you want to order before arriving and stick to it.
Include veggies. Start with a salad and then go back for the main entrée. If you are served a salad, ask for the dressing to be on the side. If you are considering dessert, choose a piece of fruit and a small piece of the dessert.
Take your drink seriously. Skip sugary drinks and replace with either diet or flavored water. Be aware of high-calorie coffees, eggnog and cranberry juice drinks.. Or sip them slow. If it is a potluck party, place a pitcher of ice water with sliced oranges and lemons next to the adult beverages and sodas.
If you are hosting the party, keep an eye on the clock. Refrigerate foods within 2 hours unless you have hot foods on a warming tray and cold foods on ice. If it is a potluck, ask guests to bring their hot item in a crock pot or their cold salad item on ice.
Enjoy your time together with family and friends. Food does bring people together. You can set yourself up to make healthy choices by keeping these simple tips in mind.
Try bringing this salad to the next pot luck dinner. The cranberries add a bit more added sugar to the recipe. Keep them and the dressing on the side for folks to add their own.
Apple Cranberry Salad Toss
1 head of lettuce (about 10 cups) — romaine, leaf, red lettuce or a mixture
2 apples (medium, sliced)
1/2 cup walnuts (chopped)
1 cup dried cranberries- keep separate on the side
1/2 cup green onion (sliced)
3/4 cup vinaigrette dressing
Toss lettuce, apples, walnuts and onions in a large bowl. Serve dressing on the side.
Basic Vinaigrette Dressing
6 tablespoons vegetable oil (olive, canola)
4 tablespoons vinegar (cider, balsamic, or red wine vinegars)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon mustard (yellow, dijon, or brown mustards)
Variations
Sweet Vinaigrette (Basic Vinaigrette recipe plus) sugar (1/4 tsp sugar)
Italian Vinaigrette (Basic Vinaigrette plus) garlic powder (1 teaspoon) Italian seasoning (1 teaspoon)
red pepper flakes, crushed (1 pinch)
Honey Mustard Vinaigrette (Basic Vinaigrette plus) Dijon or spicy mustard (1 teaspoon)
honey (2 teaspoons )
Mix all ingredients together. Serve.
