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Can you keep things healthy at your next party or get-together? Absolutely!

Whether you’re planning a cozy movie night, a festive holiday party or a game-day gathering, entertaining often comes with indulgent snacks and high-calorie drinks.

But celebrating with friends and family doesn’t have to mean compromising your health. With a few smart choices, you can keep your gatherings heart-friendly without sacrificing fun or flavor.

Heart‑Healthy Party Food Tips:

Starters

Start your party or gathering off with healthy starters. Create a platter or two of colorful cut-up raw vegetables and fruits and serve with one or more of these delicious dips:

• Sliced Fruit with Honey-Vanilla Yogurt Dip: This three-ingredient dip can be put together in no time at all. It's perfect party-pleaser.
• Creamy Spinach Feta Dip: This appetizer is so easy to make, it will be your go-to choice for family gatherings and parties. Get in some whole grains by scooping up the dip with whole-wheat pita bread or whole-grain chips.
• Creamy Cucumber-Dill Dip: This four-ingredient dip comes together in merely minutes. Serve it with any vegetables you have on hand.
• Buffalo White Bean Hummus with Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Chips: This dip is full of fiber, thanks to the beans and sweet potatoes. Whip up the dip while the sweet potato chips are baking. Enjoy while watching your favorite sports team.

Sips

Offer your guests a variety of non-sugary, nonalcoholic beverages, including water to keep everyone hydrated. Throw some cucumber slices or fresh fruit into a pitcher of water to make it more refreshing and serve with lemon or lime wedges. For festive holiday drinks, whip up a batch of Green Tea Mojito Mocktail, Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers or Raspberry Basil Iced Tea.

Serving alcohol? For those who choose to drink alcohol, the ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ recommends limiting to no more than two alcoholic drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. (A drink is one 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits.)

Main Course

• Choose lean or extra-lean beef or turkey for grilled burgers or to make chili or sliders. Offer large lettuce leaves for those guests who prefer not eating a bun.
• Keep a big pot of soup such as Burger Soup simmering on the stove. While the soup is cooking, toss together dark, leafy greens and a variety of different color raw vegetables to serve as a soup and salad combo for your guests.
• Break out the slow cooker to make cooking easier. Try these “wings,” tacos or soups. These recipes are perfect for when you are getting ready for company. The food cooks while you do something else.
• Offer plant-based options such as White Bean Hummus Wraps and Classic Margherita Pizza. Consider including or substituting these vegetarian options on the pizza or in the wraps: bottled sliced mushrooms, roasted red bell pepper strips, sliced artichoke hearts or chopped olives (lowest sodium available), or thinly sliced red onion.