Healthy finger food recipes

Mar 30, 2011 10:53 PM by Whitney Coy

Posted in Food & Recipes / Healthy Recipes & Nutrition

Better For You
Finger Foods

Finger foods are fun to eat and easy to serve. They’re great for a party, or for a fun snack at home. Finger foods are also great for toddlers learning to feed themselves, since they’re the perfect size for little hands and mouths. Unfortunately, many finger foods are unhealthy, but this doesn’t have to be the case. Just a few quick adjustments will make your favorite finger foods a healthier choice.

Mom and daughter cooking pizza

Get popping

Switch to air-popped popcorn instead of popcorn popped in oil. If you think it needs a little flavor, top yours with a light sprinkle of Parmesan cheese instead of heavy drizzles of butter.

Have fun with fries

French fries are always a crowd favorite, but they are far from healthy in their original form. Slice up a few yams with the skins still on, toss them lightly with olive oil and sprinkle them with Old Bay seasoning. Bake the fries for 45 minutes or until they are soft inside and crispy outside. These sweet potato fries are so flavorful you won't even need a dipping sauce.

Tweak your dips

Instead of dips made of salsa or cheese, try hummus. This dip, made from smashed chickpeas, is high in protein, low in fat and packed with flavor. Are you a fan of ranch sauce for dipping? Add a pinch of dill to plain yogurt and dip with that instead.

Ditch the chips

Dips are a popular finger food, but even if you go out of your way to make the dip healthier, the chips you dip in will still sabotage your efforts. Instead of reaching for a bag of chips, try dipping whole-grain crackers in your favorite dip.

Make your own pizza

Skip the delivery and make your own, healthier pizza. Use whole-wheat dough, go light on the cheese, and top it with fresh vegetables instead of high-fat meats.

Go dark

Chocolate-dipped fruit is a delicious treat for all ages. Instead of semi-sweet or milk chocolate, dip strawberries, apples, bananas and pineapples in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is packed with antioxidants and good for your heart in small doses.

Makeover your meatballs

The next time you whip up a batch of your famous meatballs, switch out the hamburger or sausage for ground turkey. Your guests probably won't even notice the switch, but the leaner meat is a much healthier option.

Re-wrap your piggies

Pigs in a blanket, otherwise known as hot dogs wrapped in cheese and puff pastry, are a favorite finger food of children. To reduce the fat content in these fun, fork-free meals, switch out the puff pastry for whole-wheat pizza dough.