Healthy Thanksgiving appetizer alternatives

Why Cut Back the Appetizers?

As the name implies, appetizers are meant to tease the appetite; to get you hungry, not satisfy that hunger.  However, in many cases the appetizers are as calorie-dense as nearly anything else in the meal, and sometimes even moreso.  Fried foods like fried mushrooms or cheese sticks or even potato chips, large quantities of cheese and crackers, devilled eggs, and so on, are all very fattening with very little nutritional value. 

Healthier Thanksgiving Appetizer Alternatives for Thanksgiving Dinner Menus

One of the healthiest appetizer choices, for Thanksgiving or any time, is crudités.  Crudités is a traditional French appetizer, which simply designates uncooked vegetables.  It generally includes some combination of celery and carrot sticks, cauliflower and broccoli florets, strips of bell pepper, small tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, or even asparagus spears or olives.  Although frequently served with ranch dressing or French onion dip, an herb vinaigrette is a healthier alternative.  A low-fat recipe guacamole is also an excellent choice.

Hummus, which is a paste of chickpeas and tahini (sesame seed paste), is also a very healthy appetizer option.  It can be served with crackers of almost any sort, or baked pita bread, or even as a dip option for crudités.

Bruschetta topped with various vegetables, such as sliced tomatoes with a little fresh mozarella and balsamic vinaigrette, or roast vegetables with or without hummus, are also good options.  Avoid too much cheese or high fat toppings like fried foods or large amounts of dairy.

A simple fruit plate is also a wonderful option.  Grapes, orange segments, and apple and pear slices, among others, are excellent choices.  If you serve apple or pear slices, squeeze a little orange or lemon juice on them to prevent browning.