snacks & party ideas

Here is a light ranch dressing that can go well with veggies

This is amazing!

A low fat ranch dressing will leave you feeling cool as a cucumber! Light and refreshing, perfect on a simple wedge of lettuce, with tomatoes and cucumbers.

This ranch dressing was lightened up with Greek yogurt, low fat buttermilk and light mayonnaise along with cucumbers, Spring chives, parsley and a hint of lemon. If you don't like mayonnaise you could replace it with more buttermilk and yogurt.

Skinny Cucumber Ranch Dressing
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 7 • Serving Size: 1/4 cup • Old Points: 1 pt • Points+: 1 pt
Calories: 43.4 • Fat: 2.4 g • Protein: 2.1 g • Carb: 3.6 g • Fiber: 0.3 g

1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1/4 cup fat free Greek yogurt
1 small cucumber, peeled and seeds removed
3 tbsp fresh parsley
1 clove garlic
1/4 cup chives or scallions
juice of 1/2 lemon
1/8 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender.

Makes 1-3/4 cup.
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2011/03/skinny-cucumber-ranch-dressing.html#more

Ever hear of low fat cupcakes...I forget the brand name but all you do is add a diet soda into the mix and bake it...i think each cupcake is only 80 calories....also have the low calorie snacks: low fat popcorn, pretzles, and low fat chewy bars!
Also fruit and veggie trays with a good variety is always good.

My friend is having her sweet sixteen this week and she is skinny and so are most of her friends, and just for me she is including healthy items into her party so I will be able to join in on the fun.

Apples with caramel are always good.

Let's remember also that it's not just about what we eat, but the portions that can make a difference. Maybe you could serve brownies or some other treat and divide them into manageable portions. Lifestyle changes should not include deprivation unless it is a concious choice. Otherwise, they won't stick. My co-worker brought in a whole bunch of sweets this morning, one of which is my weakness, turtle brownies. I cut a third of a portion and only consumed 137 calories. It's just a thought.

Finger sandwiches with turkey and whole grain bread. Sunchips.

Layered taco dips are great for kids and can be made very healthy.
Here's one example:
1 (8 ounce) package light cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container nonfat sour cream
1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix
Refried beans
1 pound turkey burger- browned
lettuce - shredded
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
3 chopped tomatoes
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 (2.25 ounce) can black olives, drained

Brown turkey burger, add taco seasoning. Mix cream cheese and sour cream together (if you don't use burger, add taco mix to this mixture), spread refried beans on top of cream cheese mix. Top with burger (if using), then veggies of choice and cheese. Use baked chips to dip.

Cowboy caviar:
2 cans black eyed peas
2 cans shoepeg corn
1 avocado, diced
2 roma tomatoes, diced
2-3 green onions, sliced
1/3 c cilantro, chopped
Dressing
1/4 c olive oil
1/4 c red wine vinegar
1 tsp cumin (or taco seasoning mix)
2 cloves garlic, minced
Mix together and pour over other ingredients. Refrigerate overnight. Serve with baked chips.

Fruit salsa
Ingredients
2 kiwis, peeled and diced 2 Golden Delicious apples - peeled, cored and diced 8 ounces raspberries 1 pound strawberries 2 tablespoons white sugar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 3 tablespoons fruit preserves, any flavor 10 (10 inch) flour tortillas butter flavored cooking spray 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar
Directions
In a large bowl, thoroughly mix kiwis, Golden Delicious apples, raspberries, strawberries, white sugar, brown sugar and fruit preserves. Cover and chill in the refrigerator at least 15 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Coat one side of each flour tortilla with butter flavored cooking spray. Cut into wedges and arrange in a single layer on a large baking sheet. Sprinkle wedges with desired amount of cinnamon sugar. Spray again with cooking spray.
Bake in the preheated oven 8 to 10 minutes. Repeat with any remaining tortilla wedges. Allow to cool approximately 15 minutes. Serve with chilled fruit mixture.

Or to make it easy, buy cinnamon sugar pita chips (for sure at Trader Joes)

Amount Per Serving

Calories: 312

Total Fat: 5.9g
Cholesterol: 0mg
Sodium: 462mg
Total Carbs: 59g
Dietary Fiber: 5.7g
Protein: 6.8g


Hope these help!

This might be a little more spendy, but maybe have them build their own pizzas and have healthier ingredients for the toppings?

Homemade Ranch Oyster Crackers

Buy the dry ranch packets and bags of oyster crackers, pour on a 1/4 vegetable oil stir and bake 250 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes, stirring after 10 minutes.. I added a little garlic and onion powder to mine as well.
It's delicious!

Pizza bagels maybe? Veggie tray, fruit tray.