Healthy party food

[1GoldenSun]

My son is a competitive swimmer and we used to host a party for his swim team every summer right before the state championships. It was on hiatus for the last few years but we're bringing it back this year. The thing is, the kids are older now and more serious about their training. We used to grill burgers and hot dogs and serve various dips, snack foods, and desserts. With this party being only four days before the championship, I think the swimmers are going to want to be more careful about what they eat this year. Most of the kids are around 12-15.

I was thinking about stuff like vegetables and hummus and maybe a cheese and fruit platter, but does anyone have any ideas for a main dish? How about desserts? I'll have a watermelon, but I'd like some kind of baked good or something that's more of a "treat," but not loaded with sugar. Any ideas?

 

[luvnwdwgal]

Balsamic grilled chicken would be good.

 

[ronandannette]

Yep - go with grilled chicken and a quinoa salad (cold quinoa, peppers, cucumber, tomato and some sort of oil and vinegar dressing).

 

[1GoldenSun]

Oooh, yes, how in the world did it not occur to me to grill chicken instead? And a quinoa salad would be cheap, easy and delicious! Thanks!

 

[Schneewittchen37]

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?

 

[_19disnA]

Grilled chicken is a good idea since it is fairly easy to make in large quantity for a gathering using your BBQ and reasonably priced. Most people like chicken so it is an entree that works well for a gathering. There are many good marinades they sell which also makes for easier prep. Fresh fruit, corn on the cob which is in season now could be side dishes. Are they big on pasta? I know some athletes used to eat lots of pasta but not sure if that is still in vogue now. Cheese is good for snacking but if doing this outside can be challenge keeping it cool in hot weather.

Cookies/ice cream perhaps for dessert? Seems like something most everyone likes even if they follow any kind of healthy diet.

 

[Christine]

Going along with the grilled chicken idea but making it more "party-ish" (but time consuming), how about taking on a shish-kebob/skewer theme with the chicken and or pork tenderloin, lean beef etc. Add to that some veggies like peppers and mushrooms, pineapple, etc. I know they are time consuming but skewers can be done ahead of time, re-heated easily and various sauces could be used for dipping etc.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I love the grilled chicken ideas, and you could do popsicles if you think they'll be hesitant to eat more calorie-dense desserts. There are lots of real fruit ones out there now, or you could make your own using paper cups. I remember my aunt used to make jello ones for hot days because they didnt melt as quickly.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I saw a recipe recently on Instagram, it was Caprese Salad (mozzarella slice, tomato, fresh basil leaves drizzled with balsamic dressing, the Honey Balsamic by Kens is thick and tasty) sandwiches on a ciabatta roll and grilled on a panini press. You could use whole wheat or seeded bread instead, and there’s no rule that says you couldn’t throw a thin slice of chicken or turkey breast on there, either (?maybe optional) if extra protein is desired. Yum. I’m going to try them myself soon.

Another related appetizer idea is Caprese salad sticks - on a stick put a mozzarella ball, a grape tomato, some fresh basil leaves, and drizzle with balsamic vinegar or dressing.

 

[mjkacmom]

Yep - go with grilled chicken and a quinoa salad (cold quinoa, peppers, cucumber, tomato and some sort of oil and vinegar dressing).

My first thought was quinoa salad, I make it all of the time in the summer instead of pasta salad because I have a daughter with celiac. I put in cherry tomatoes, scallions, cucumber, chickpeas, kalamata olives, feta, and a fresh lemon vinaigrette., plus fresh herbs from the garden.

 

[evilmommie]

Love all of these ideas. I'd go with the grilled chicken, a summery pasta salad (need their carbs), cut watermelon and a fruit cobbler. Lot's of snacks, too.. all of the veggies and hummus and cheese. Lot's of healthy carbs...they burn those so quickly!

 

[TwoMisfits]

Balsamic grilled chicken would be good.

Plain chicken (just s&p and olive oil) with a raw bruschetta topping (so folks can have it or not) might also be good.

 

[Mysterian]

I love the chicken idea, that's exactly what I would want too. High in protein.

There's something I've been wanting to try. On Provost Park Pass, he reviewed Mythos, which is supposed to be the best theme park restaurant. The appetizer dish was this Mediterranean style dip made from feta cheese . Here's a description from another review "large dollop of feta cheese, cream cheese, pepperoncini peppers, served with crispy toasted pita bread", and there should be olive oil in there too. This would be very tasty.

 

[Bethislucy]

If you are going to grill chicken you could always do a grilled peach with cinnamon (I'm in the south and peaches are starting to come in season so they are natural sweet)

 

[Imzadi]

Are they big on pasta? I know some athletes used to eat lots of pasta but not sure if that is still in vogue now.

(Shameless promo for Barilla Protein Plus Pasta coming: )

Tell the kids they are eating:
Barilla Protein Plus Pasta. (Yellow box.)

It is the ONLY pasta I eat now, (other than quinoa.) Barilla Protein Plus is 100% plant protein, made with protein from lentils, chickpeas, and peas and fiber.

It tastes like regular pasta. It does NOT taste like boiled cardboard the way "whole wheat" pastas do. It is a better choice for anyone who would still like to eat pasta, but not all the carbs, and have a protein substitute.

You can check the chart for the ratio of protein and fiber:
Barilla Protein Plus pasta. It is more expensive than regular pasta, but in exchange for buying/adding less of other protein foods, it's probably still less expensive - and more heart healthy & filling.

 

[Moliphino]

I love the chicken idea, that's exactly what I would want too. High in protein.

There's something I've been wanting to try. On Provost Park Pass, he reviewed Mythos, which is supposed to be the best theme park restaurant. The appetizer dish was this Mediterranean style dip made from feta cheese . Here's a description from another review "large dollop of feta cheese, cream cheese, pepperoncini peppers, served with crispy toasted pita bread", and there should be olive oil in there too. This would be very tasty.

Sounds similar to ktipiti.

 

[bcla]

Really? I used to go to adult sports camps where most of the coaches were college athletes. I asked one if they had any kind of super special diet for them, and he said that on the road he was gobbling up tons of junk food like McDonald's because it was cheap and he could use his per diem on it. He burned tons of calories per day during practice and during competition.

Once I saw a college basketball player I'd met before (long story) where he was talking about his recent trip to a preseason tournament in Alaska. He was complaining about the lack of cheap food that he could use with his per diem. The cheapest option they had in Fairbanks within walking distance was Denny's, although I think they had more fast food.

 

[1GoldenSun]

Really? I used to go to adult sports camps where most of the coaches were college athletes. I asked one if they had any kind of super special diet for them, and he said that on the road he was gobbling up tons of junk food like McDonald's because it was cheap and he could use his per diem on it. He burned tons of calories per day during practice and during competition.

Once I saw a college basketball player I'd met before (long story) where he was talking about his recent trip to a preseason tournament in Alaska. He was complaining about the lack of cheap food that he could use with his per diem. The cheapest option they had in Fairbanks within walking distance was Denny's, although I think they had more fast food.

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.

 

[bcla]

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.

Yeah I get that. But healthy eating isn't really all that common in college sports. I found a photo of a training table setup at the University of Nebraska athletic dept. I see fried chicken, waffle fries, salmon (I guess that could be healthy if the sauce is scraped off), etc. And then all the sugary soft drinks.

 

[anjuan]

My daughter is a competitive swimmer. If you do a google search there are a lot of articles out there about what swimmers need before and after swimming. I would consider if the party is going to be after a practice or before, etc. Before swimming they need carbs with easily digestible protein. After swimming they need more protein with complex carbs for muscle recovery.

I have been eating low carb myself to lose weight but I always have healthy carb options like whole grain pasta or brown rice for my daughter.