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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

A Health-Focused Dinner Party? No Problem With This Simple Guide

A dinner party can be such a wonderful opportunity to get friends together. To socialise and have some fun. However, sometimes the food can be a little heavy or rich. But, I’m here to tell you that you can have a health-focused dinner party. Where the food is utterly delicious and completely good for you. Want to know how? Then here’s my simple guide to creating the perfect healthy dinner party.

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It’s all in the planning.

The planning of a dinner party is possibly the most important thing you can do. This enables you to get your event off on the right foot. You need to plan your food, your drinks, your entertainment. You also need to think about when you are holding your dinner party.

Think about your food choices and courses to make it balanced.

It is essential to have a balanced meal to keep it healthy. So think about your food groups and what you plan to serve on the day. If you have a particularly heavy carbohydrate focused course, then try to ease off that in the other courses. Make sure you cater for all your guests which means taking into account any lifestyle choices. This means vegetarians and vegans. It’s always the impression that a dinner party will be a little on the unhealthy side so prove them wrong with thoughtful choices and meals.

It’s not just about the food.

It isn’t just about the food you serve when you host a dinner party. There is a lot in the way you decorate the location of your event. Are you having a themed meal? If so then why not decorate your home to add to the authenticity. Maybe it’s a birthday celebration for yourself or one of your guests. Then add some fun bunting or balloons. The decoration can be a real talking point and icebreaker for your guests. Especially if they don’t know one another.

Cater for all your guests.

I may not be of drinking age but that doesn’t mean that some of my guests won’t be? So try and cater for all your guests in the drinks choices just as you would in the meal options. Perhaps offering a welcome cocktail or a glass of wine with their meal to compliment the food. You don’t need to be a wine connoisseur to make some excellent choices. You can see all wine products on sale now online and that may help you choose.

Finish off the dinner party in style.

Finally, why not add a little element of surprise to your dinner party and think about the entertainment. Perhaps offering a musical interlude at the end. Or even just playing the tunes and encouraging everyone to work off their meal. Afterall you are trying to have a healthy dinner party. You could even look into a magician or some other form of entertainment. There are plenty of options available and it’s advisable to do some research on the internet before booking anyone.

I hope this guide helps you create the perfect health-focused dinner party. Enjoy!

Friday, April 8, 2016

Amazing Healthy Alternatives to Junk Food


Trying to eat healthily is usually spoilt by giving into temptation. And there is one huge temptation that lots of people find difficult to ignore. Junk food! We’ve all craved junk food at some point of other. Whether it was pizza, burgers, or ice cream. But there are many ways you can satisfy your cravings without actually scoffing a load of fast food. Want to know how to make healthy alternatives? Read on to find out more!

Homemade Chips

Chips are delicious, but they are packed with so many calories! However, if you make your own at home, you can control their calorie count. If you oven-bake your chips instead of deep-frying them, then you will be cutting down on unwanted fat and calories. Homemade chips should be seen as a treat and shouldn’t be eaten every day. But they are great to serve up as a better alternative to frozen chips at your next dinner party!


Use Chickpeas Instead Of Flour

Cakes and Biscuits are hardly the most nutritious treats. However, it is possible to bake flourless versions which are a much healthier alternative! All you need to do is use chickpeas instead of wheat flour. Sounds crazy? Not really! There are so many advantages to baking with chickpeas. They are full of protein and fibre, helping you stay fuller for longer. And, as they are sugar-free, you won’t have to suffer a horrible sugar crash.


Get An Air Fryer

Frying in oil is very unhealthy. No matter what kind of oil you use. So it’s a good idea to ditch the frying pan and deep fryer for good. But you can still enjoy fried foods – you just need to get an air fryer! Instead of frying food in a whole load of oil, these appliances fry in very hot air. So not only are they healthier, but they are also safer. Because you won’t be dealing with hot oil. Take a look at different air fryers on sites like www.airfryerreviews.com.au


Go For The Veggie Option

Meat can have a high fat content, and there are also some studies that eating too much can lead to weight gain: www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-10726414. So it’s a good idea to cut down on your daily meat intake and give yourself, at least, one meat-free day per week. But you can still enjoy your fast-food favourites such as burgers. Just choose the vegetarian option! If you are making them at home, use nuts, beans, and pulses to make your patty instead of mince.

Choose Soda Water

Fizzy drinks are super refreshing but have ridiculously high sugar contents. You can still have the fizz without sugar, though! Just switch your cola or lemonade for soda water. If you want some more flavour, add a wedge of lime or lemon. Serve over ice for a great summer drink!

So there you have it; healthy and delicious ways to enjoy all your favourite fast foods and junk foods!