Healthy party food

[leebee]

Being as this is a few days before the championships, maybe call the coaches and see what they'd recommend for food?

 

[disykat]

How about a burrito bowl bar? They could make a bowl, a salad, or a burrito depending on their preferences, kind of like Chipotle. With food allergies and different preferences, doing either TexMex or Asian style "bowl bars" is my favorite new way to entertain.

 

[1GoldenSun]

How about a burrito bowl bar? They could make a bowl, a salad, or a burrito depending on their preferences, kind of like Chipotle. With food allergies and different preferences, doing either TexMex or Asian style "bowl bars" is my favorite new way to entertain.

I love this idea!

I think I'll marinade chicken, skirt steak, and pork tenderloin in two different marinades and then grill them, and set up the various meats on a buffet along with tortillas, rice, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, avocado, and several types of salsa, as well as a quinoa salad, a corn salad, and a black bean salad.

I'll also have a cheese and fruit platter and a vegetable platter out along with some whole grain crackers and breadsticks. And maybe some mixed nuts and dried fruits.

Still not sure about dessert. I like all the suggestions so far, but nothing yet has hit me as just the right thing. I may just try to bake a cake or something with monkfruit instead of sugar. Or maybe a fruit cobbler, although I don't know how well-received that would be with a bunch of kids. Or maybe I'll just serve a healthy meal and let the dessert be the exception and go all out!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Cupcakes are always a hit with that age group!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Sounds great -- for dessert, what about a mixed fruit bowl?

You could also do macerated strawberries, angel food cake, whipped cream/ice cream for a short-cake type dessert.

 

[_19disnA]

I don't think planning the food needs to be overly complicated. Ask you son for his input since clearly he is also on the team and might have some ideas of foods they would prefer. If you have a variety of things, those attending can decide what they like and choose from what is available. I doubt every person will eat every side dish or entree.

 

[mrodgers]

It sounds like they were trying to take advantage of their per diem to come out ahead financially. It doesn't matter how many calories an athlete burns. Simple carbs, sugars, and trans fats aren't a healthy way for them to eat.

Unhealthy in the sense that the majority of people sitting and watching Netflix needs to eat less of that. Carbs, sugars, fat, and protein you need when you're as active as you are when playing sports.

I would do something like.... burgers and hotdogs

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I don't think planning the food needs to be overly complicated. Ask you son for his input since clearly he is also on the team and might have some ideas of foods they would prefer. If you have a variety of things, those attending can decide what they like and choose from what is available. I doubt every person will eat every side dish or entree.

I agree. Simple is probably best.

And I hate to say it but it is summer and you have to be concerned with food safety, ie keeping things at proper temperature, and people coughing and sneezing (or even talking and laughing) at a buffet, etc.

Cold foods do not have a “kill step”, ie heat that kills germs (speaking of Chipotle - I know it’s a favorite but that’s why they had a lot of food borne illness).

We had this type of dilemma when we had our kids’ HS graduation ”open house” in July. How to serve the food either cold or hot and keep it fresh, in summer? We solved the problem by buying a small pizza oven and making pizzas to order, and classic cake, that didn’t have to be refrigerated.

I think it would also be somewhat challenging to use three types of meats, two different marinades, different salsas, etc. I mean, it sounds wonderful! But also somewhat complicated. Not sure we heard where this dinner will be held or how many people will attend, etc.

Don’t mean to “crash the party”, just offering my opinion! (Feel free to disregard!)

 

[lovesmurfs]

To keep stuff cold, we use plastic under-the-bed storage bins filled with ice -- just place the bowls of the stuff to be kept cold in the bins.

Or you can get two of an aluminum disposable pan, freeze water in about 1/3 of one of them, and then place the filled pan on top of it.

 

[monsterkitty]

As a former swimmer now triathlete, I would still offer the hamburgers but not the hotdogs. Also, athletes do need the simple carbs the day of a meet, but complex carbs leading into the week.

Stay away from spicey or spices that can upset a GI system. If the meet is more than 2 or 3 days after the BBQ, then high fiber foods are okay. Closer than that, go light on the high fiber foods. Trust me, a swimmer doesn't need a "Oh, crap" (pun intended) right before they get on the blocks. Also, high acidic foods, like marinara sauce, may not work for some swimmers.

What works for some athletes before a race will not work for other athletes so have a variety. For example, I can eat the burgers but anything with pork would not work for me. Any other time pork is fine. As a kid before a meet or now before a race, I cannot have any pork less than a week before the race.

Now my go-to pre-race meal if we're at home is grilled chicken and brown rice. Away it's chicken tenders and fries or a burger. I can't eat any veggies at all or it's not pretty.

 

[Imzadi]

Stay away from spicey or spices that can upset a GI system. If the meet is more than 2 or 3 days after the BBQ, then high fiber foods are okay. Closer than that, go light on the high fiber foods. Trust me, a swimmer doesn't need a "Oh, crap" (pun intended) right before they get on the blocks. Also, high acidic foods, like marinara sauce, may not work for some swimmers.

What works for some athletes before a race will not work for other athletes so have a variety.

I think I'll marinade chicken, skirt steak, and pork tenderloin in two different marinades and then grill them, and set up the various meats on a buffet along with tortillas, rice, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, avocado, and several types of salsa, as well as a quinoa salad, a corn salad, and a black bean salad.

I was thinking the same as monsterkitty. While it sounds great to marinate the different meats, some spices and spicy foods may not react well with some people. Nor the high fiber beans.

I have various food allergies/intolerances. Not knowing what ingredients & spices are in a dish is a problem for me. Choosing something simple, like a plain burger, likely seasoned with only salt & pepper, or grilled chicken with only olive oil and salt & pepper are safer choices for me to choose at a buffet.

 

[NannyBeBe]

I would definitely ask my son what he would like. Burgers, a pasta salad with an oil and vinegar dressing (less likely to spoil), and chips and salsa would be a simple menu.

 

[PollyannaMom]

To keep stuff cold, we use plastic under-the-bed storage bins filled with ice -- just place the bowls of the stuff to be kept cold in the bins.

Or you can get two of an aluminum disposable pan, freeze water in about 1/3 of one of them, and then place the filled pan on top of it.

What great ideas!

 

[MamaLema]

My kids are competitive swimmers too, but we kind of go nasty, tasty, super unhealthy for their team banquets.

Anyway, a healthy-ish option. We do a lot of grilled boneless chicken thighs - marinated in teriyaki sauce, Goya Mojo Criollo or McCormick Grillmates seasoning packets (Zesty Herb or Garlic Herb & Wine) are very popular with my kids (10 & 12).

For dessert, maybe oatmeal raisin cookies or apple crisp?

Could you share your soy sauce/ mojo ratio? It sounds delicious

 

[NotUrsula]

Be aware that about 10% of the population is sensitive to quinoa (yes, even if washed correctly), and that the usual reaction of that 10% is diarrhea. Be sure to mark the quinoa as to what it is, so that people who can't eat it will know.

Personally, if it were my team, I'd postpone it until after the big meet. My DD is a serious competitor (different sport), and we don't do parties that close to a major competition. (We'll have a send-off after final practice, but with music and new event tees, not food.)