What with open houses, cocktail parties and small plates, we have a definite need for healthy appetizers during the holiday season. Ta-Da!  Enter our iPhone app.  Calorie Count's free iPhone app has great appetizers! 

If you don’t have an iPhone (our iPad and Android apps are coming soon…) you can get our healthy appetizers right here.  Here are 20, mostly Grade “A” appie recipes from our iPhone App.  We have 15 sides and 5 dips - mostly vegetarian – to serve your guests and for you to eat anytime. They represent only a portion of the recipes on our iPhone App.  All recipes originated from the About.com Food & Drink Channel. 

A word about healthy appies….

A healthy appetizer is not full of empty calories from added sugar and too much fat.  They may be healthy versions of traditional recipes or new recipes with good-for-you ingredients, preferably from more than one food group.  They will be full of fiber, vitamins A and C, calcium, protein, and other nutrients.  And they will be so delicious that your guests won’t know they’re eating healthy food.  But don’t tell them!  As researcher Brian Wansink shows, terms like “low fat” and “low calorie” reduce the acceptance of new foods.  Shhh!  It’s our little secret.

Happy holiday party season to you from Calorie Count! 

Sides

• Thai Grilled Shrimp and Pineapple Brochettes
• Spicy Shrimp Kabobs
• Balkan Meatballs Shish Kebabs
• Thai Lettuce Wraps
• Crab Stuffed Mushrooms
• Caramelized Onion Quesadillas
• Spanish Omelet
• Low Fat Hanukkah Latkas
• Spanish Mushrooms, Peppers and Garlic
• Low Calorie Seven Layer Dip
• Tomato Bruschetta
• Grilled Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms
• Easy Spanish White Beans with Chard and Pancetta 
• Mango and Bean Salsa
• Chili Spiced Candied Peanuts

Dips

• Cottage Cheese Onion Dip
• Low Fat Spinach Dip
• Fat Free Baba Ganoush
• Low Fat Guacamole 
• Olive Tapenade with Roasted Red Peppers