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Menu for healthy holiday dinner party?

Page last modified on: October 14, 2008

Question from Margot: I want to make a festive-but-healthy buffet dinner for a group of 6. What would be good choices for my menu that have the fun and taste we expect, but are good for us?: Answers —Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: You can have a fresh veggie tray, but instead of a dip with sour cream, look for one made with tofu or low-fat yogurt.; Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Fresh fruit salad is always a big hit. You can try dressing it up with some honey, mint and lime to give it a little zing.; Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: Try salmon with whole-grain crackers, or an assortment of olives.; Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Try small finger sandwiches of sliced turkey—I even made them once with blueberries, and it was a great success. I'm just looking it up in my cookbook now. Things with pesto, like grilled chicken with pesto, are tasty and healthy.; Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: Baked chips with salsa. Dried fruits and nuts are beautiful and healthy. Buffets don't necessarily have to be finger foods. I always take a beautiful black bean salad to buffets, and everyone always asks me for the recipe (which is on my website, www.cancerrd.com).; Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.: Blanched asparagus can make a beautiful and edible bouquet for the table, with a dipping sauce. Here's the recipe for that sandwich—smoked turkey with a blueberry chutney, served on a blueberry biscuit. It was delicious and beautiful and fairly healthy.; Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: The unexpected like that works well for holiday parties.; Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S.: The other thing to remember is the presentation of food is often the most important part of making it appealing, as opposed to the fat and sugar content.; Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D.: Food safety is a critical issue, especially if a person's immune system is compromised. On a buffet, hot food has to be kept hot and cold food has to be kept cold.

Editor's Note: See more healthy and tasty recipes.

On Wednesday, November 15, 2006, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Eating and Drinking Through the Holidays. Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D. and moderator Jennifer Sabol, M.D. answered your questions about how to stay healthy during the most hectic, high-calorie time of year.

The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.

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Meet the Experts

Diana Dyer, M.S., R.D. is a registered dietitian in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and a two-time breast cancer survivor.

Jennifer Sabol, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a breast surgeon who directs the newly developed Breast Care Center at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, Pa. Among her many interests, Dr. Sabol spearheads several research initiatives to advance the care for women with breast cancer and improve methods of breast cancer detection and treatment.