Low-Carb Party Foods

Are you planning a party, or going to one? You'll be happy to know there are lots of different party foods that are low in carbohydrate. Here are some of my favorites.

Vegetables and Dip

It's easy, healthy, colorful, crunchy, and everyone appreciates having some vegetables around. You can use three or four contrasting colors, or go wild with a huge platter. Tip: Hard vegetables such as broccoli are easier to eat when blanched. Boil for two minutes, and then transfer to a bowl of ice water for a quick cool-down.
Low-Carb Vegetable List with links to carb counts

Low-Carb Dips:

• Easy Spinach Dip
• Red Pepper Dip
• Easy Guacamole

As an alternative consider stuffing your vegetables instead of dipping them. Any dip or spread can be stuffed into vegetables such as mini-bell peppers or cherry tomatoes.

Slices of cucumber or jicama make great vehicles dips as well as cheeses and spreads, such as:

• Shrimp Dill Spread
• Homemade Cheese Spread
• Pimento Cheese Spread
• Pesto Torte from Linda Larsen, About.com Guide to Busy Cooks

Shrimp Cocktail

Low-carb and SO easy! This low-carb cocktail sauce can be mixed up in no time (the ones from the grocery store are full of sugar):

• Sugar-Free Shrimp Cocktail Sauce

Also try: Low-Carb Coconut Shrimp

Cheese Platter

Arrange several cheeses on a platter. Add melon or berries for a sweet contrast, or small mounds of sugar-free apricot jam.

• How to Make Stuffed Brie Cheese with Low-Carb Fillings

Smoked Salmon

There are lots of ways to serve smoked salmon. Put it out near the cheeses so that people can mix and match. Salmon with cream cheese on cucumber slices is great; add a sprig of dill or a couple of capers for extra spark, if you'd like. If you want to get a little fancier, make roll-ups by spreading salmon with cream cheese, then rolling up and slicing (see photo).

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is a cured Italian ham that comes sliced very thin. Prosciutto and melon is a classic combination. Mound a bit of prosciutto on your cheese plate for another great pairing. Or, roast asparagus, and then wrap each stem with prosciutto. For a truly fun and impressive party food, try Asparagus Flowers, from Peggy Trowbridge Filipone, About.com's Guide to Home Cooking.

Wings

Chicken wings are great finger food and can be made in so many different ways. The trick is to get them crisp. Some ideas:

• Wings with Spicy Peach Dipping Sauce
• Classic Buffalo Wings, from Diana Rattray, About.com's Guide to Southern Food
• Grilled Lemon Wings, from Derrick Riches, About.com's Guide to Barbecues and Grilling
• Easy Blue Cheese Dressing

Fancy Nuts

Who doesn't like to nibble on some spicy or sweet nuts? (Compare Nuts and Seeds)

• Five Minute Spicy-Sweet Pecans
• Sugar-Free Candied Peanuts
• Low-Carb Trail Mix

Deviled Eggs

Gussy up plain deviled eggs by adding crab or smoked salmon to the filling.

• Deviled Egg Recipe

Skewers

Make skewers with shrimp or small meat balls. Alternate with vegetables or melon balls. (see photo)

Olives

Put out a dish with an assortment of fancy olives or sugar-free pickles to contrast with some of the richer flavors you're serving up, like those of the cheeses.

Beverages

Some people automatically think of alcoholic beverages for parties, but non-alcoholic versions can be made from most of these Low-Carb Cocktails. Also check out these flavorful sugar-free beverage ideas as well as information about alcoholic beverages on a low-carb diet.