Calories

How To Be Calorie Conscious With Party Food




Let's  be realistic—it is hard to stay within your calorie-conscious framework at a party, let alone put together a balanced meal. But that doesn't mean that it is impossible. 
To free up calories, say no to ordinary foods, such as chips and nuts, that you could eat any time. Then decide which foods are really worth the splurge. One of the best strategies is to think small and enjoy your food in one-or two-bite portions, the usual size of "passed" hors d'oeuvres. Pace yourself, especially at parties with separate appetizer, meal, and dessert hours.

Food Calories Per Party Bite:
Cantaloupe ball 5
Pita chip 5
Oyster 10
Spinach artichoke dip 22
Hummus 25
Deviled egg 30
Brownie 30
Mini crab cake 30
Pecan pie 35
Chocolate-covered strawberry 40
Mini mushroom turnover 40
Mini broccoli cheese quiche 40
Brie 45
Scallop wrapped in bacon 50
Chocolate cake 50
Cheddar cheese 55
Paté 60
Strawberry cheesecake 90

How to be calorie-wise at parties:
1. Consider doubling up by combining two meals for a total of 800 calories. Parties are special occasions that should be enjoyed . . . within reason
2. Always eat before you drink. Alcohol hits harder on an empty stomach and also may loosen your inhibitions enough to undo your best intentions. And stick to one alcoholic drink max, saving the rest of your calories for food.
3. Hold an alcohol-free drink—preferably a calorie-free one, such as sparkling water—in one hand so that it's  harder to eat.
4. Avoid standing next to snacks in bowls, and stand as far away from the bar and food tables as possible to lessen temptation. Better yet, use party time to socialize or even to burn calories dancing or taking part in kids' games.
5. Seek out raw veggies and fresh fruit for a low-calorie way to fill your plate. And dip with vegetables rather than with bread or chips.
6. The raw seafood bar and the sashimi platter are filled with low-calorie raw fish options. Choose cocktail sauce rather than higher-calorie tartar sauce, and go easy on sushi—the rice adds calories.

HORS D'OEUVRES

CRUDITÉS (RAW VEGETABLES)
½ cup: 25 calories
8 cups: 400 calories
½ cup: 25 calories

SHUMAI (CHINESE SHRIMP DUMPLING)
1 dumpling: 25 calories
16 dumplings: 400 calories
1 dumpling: 25 calories

MINI CRAB CAKE
1 crab cake: 30 calories
13 crab cakes: 390 calories
1 crab cake: 30 calories

RAW OYSTERS WITH COCKTAIL SAUCE
3 oysters + 1 tsp cocktail sauce: 30 calories
42 oysters + 5 Tbsp cocktail sauce: 420 calories
3 oysters + 1 tsp cocktail sauce: 30 calories

PROSCIUTTO
1 slice: 30 calories
13 slices: 390 calories
1 slice: 30 calories

MINI CHICKEN EGG ROLL
1 egg roll: 35 calories
12 egg rolls: 420 calories
1 egg roll: 35 calories

CALIFORNIA ROLL
1 piece: 40 calories
10 pieces: 400 calories
1 piece: 40 calories

TUNA ROLL
1 piece: 40 calories
10 pieces: 400 calories
1 piece: 40 calories

SPINACH ARTICHOKE DIP
2 Tbsp dip: 45 calories
1 cup + 2 Tbsp dip: 405 calories
2 Tbsp dip: 45 calories

SPICY SALMON ROLL
1 piece: 50 calories
8 pieces: 400 calories
1 piece: 50 calories

MINI BROCCOLI CHEESE QUICHE
1 quiche: 50 calories
8 quiches: 400 calories
1 quiche: 50 calories

OLIVES
5 olives: 50 calories
40 olives: 400 calories
5 olives: 50 calories

PUMPERNICKEL WITH SMOKED SALMON AND EGG
1 slice pumpernickel snack bread + 2 slices smoked salmon + 1 tsp chopped egg + 14 tsp capers + 1 tsp onion 50 calories
8 slices: 400 calories
1 slice: 50 calories

HUMMUS
¼ cup hummus (4 Tbsp): 100 calories
1 cup hummus: 400 calories
2 Tbsp hummus: 50 calories

SPIRAL HAM
6 thin slices: 60 calories
40 thin slices: 400 calories
6 thin slices: 60 calories

MINI CHICKEN SATAY SKEWERS
2 skewers: 60 calories
13 skewers: 390 calories
2 skewers: 60 calories

PIGS IN A BLANKET
1 pig in a blanket: 60 calories
7 pigs in a blanket: 420 calories
1 pig in a blanket: 60 calories

MINI CORN DOG
1 corn dog: 60 calories
6½ corn dogs: 390 calories
1 corn dog: 60 calories

DEVILED EGGS
1 half egg: 60 calories
7 half eggs: 420 calories
1 half egg: 60 calories

ROAST BEEF PINWHEEL WRAP
2 slices: 70 calories
12 slices: 420 calories
2 slices: 70 calories

TOMATO PROVOLONE PINWHEEL WRAP
2 slices: 70 calories
12 slices: 420 calories
2 slices: 70 calories

MINI MUSHROOM TURNOVERS
2 turnovers: 80 calories
10 turnovers: 400 calories
2 turnovers: 80 calories

SHRIMP COCKTAIL
3 shrimp + ¼ cup cocktail sauce: 90 calories
12 shrimp + 1 cup cocktail sauce: 360 calories
3 shrimp + ¼ cup cocktail sauce: 90 calories

ROAST BEEF
1 thin slice: 30 calories
13 thin slices: 390 calories
3 thin slices: 90 calories

FLANK STEAK
3 thin slices: 100 calories
12 thin slices: 400 calories
3 thin slices: 100 calories

SMALL SPINACH AND CHEESE TARTS
2 tarts: 100 calories
8 tarts: 400 calories
2 tarts: 100 calories

SCALLOPS WRAPPED IN BACON
2 scallops: 100 calories
8 scallops: 400 calories
2 scallops: 100 calories

MIXED NUTS
½ cup nuts: 200 calories
½ cup nuts: 400 calories
2 Tbsp nuts: 100 calories

PÂTÉ
2 Tbsp pâté: 120 calories
7 Tbsp pâté: 420 calories
2 Tbsp pâté: 120 calories

POTATO CHIPS WITH DIP
1 oz chips + 2 Tbsp dip: 200 calories
2 oz chips + ¼ cup dip: 400 calories
1 oz chips + 2 Tbsp dip: 200 calories

CHEESEBURGER SLIDERS
1 slider: 210 calories
2 sliders: 420 calories
1 slider: 210 calories

Crudités and Dip
1 cup crudités
50 + 5 olives: 50 + 2 Tbsp hummus: 50 + 6 pita chips: 60 + 2 bocconcini and cherry tomato skewers: 100 + 2 Tbsp mixed nuts: 100 = 410 calories
- good fats
- fruits/veggies

Kids' Birthday Party
10 baby carrots 40 + ½ slice cheese pizza 160 + ½ small cupcake with frosting: 120 + ¼ cup vanilla ice cream: 70 = 390 calories

Asian Hors d'Oeuvres
3 shumai 75 + 3 mini chicken egg rolls: 105 + 4 mini chicken satay skewers: 120 + 3 thin slices flank steak 100 = 400 calories
- protein

Mini Hot Dogs
2 pigs in a blanket + 1 tsp mustard: 125 + 1 mini corn dog: 60 + 2 halves deviled egg 120 + 1 bottle light beer
100 = 405 calories

Crudités and Cheese
½ cup crudités 25 + 2 mini mushroom turnovers 80 + 1 oz Brie 90 + 1 oz Cheddar cheese: 110 + 6 Ritz crackers: 100 = 405 calories
Kid-size portions are a great calorie-control tool for adults.

KIDS' PARTY
With so many parents onboard the healthy eating bandwagon for kids, you're likely to find at least a few foods to put together for your calorie-conscious meal. Remember to save room for dessert.

10 baby carrots
40 calories
10 potato chips: 100 calories
1 scoop (14 cup) vanilla ice cream: 140 calories
1 cup Chex Mix: 190 calories
4 small (2/3 oz) chocolate chip cookies: 240 calories
1 slice cheese pizza (14", cut into 8 slices): 320 calories
1 (6″) hot dog on a bun: 350 calories

Medium (3 oz) yellow cupcake with frosting: 530 calories

 

CHEESE

GOAT CHEESE
1 oz: 80 calories
5 oz: 400 calories
1 oz: 80 calories

BRIE
1 oz: 90 calories
4½ oz: 405 calories
1 oz: 90 calories

BOCCONCINI AND CHERRY TOMATO MINI-SKEWERS
2 skewers: 100 calories
8 skewers: 400 calories
2 skewers: 100 calories

GOUDA CHEESE
1 oz: 100 calories
4 oz: 400 calories
1 OZ
100 calories

CHEDDAR CHEESE
1 oz: 110 calories
3 3/4 oz: 410 calories
1 oz: 110 calories

PARMIGIANO-REGGIANO OR PARMESAN
1 oz: 120 calories
3½ oz: 420 calories
1 oz: 120 calories

Shrimp and Crab Cake
3 shrimp + ¼ cup cocktail sauce: 90 + 1 mini crab cake: 30 + 4 Tbsp spinach artichoke dip: 90 + 3 Triscuits
60 + 1 flute champagne
110 = 380 calories

BREADS AND CRACKERS

PITA CHIPS
3 chips: 30 calories
40 chips: 400 calories
3 chips: 30 calories

BRUSCHETTA(1½″ ROUND + 1 TSP TOPPING)
1 slice: 30 calories
13 slices: 390 calories
1 slice: 30 calories

RITZ CRACKERS
3 crackers: 50 calories
24 crackers: 400 calories
3 crackers: 50 calories

TRISCUITS
3 crackers: 60 calories
20 crackers: 400 calories
3 crackers: 60 calories

 

Beverages:

LIGHT BEER (12 OZ BOTTLE)
1 bottle: 100 calories
4 bottles: 400 calories
1 bottle: 100 calories

CHAMPAGNE (5 OZ FLUTE)
1 flute: 110 calories
3½ flutes: 385 calories
1 flute: 110 calories

WINE (5 OZ GLASS)
1 glass: 120 calories
3½ glasses: 420 calories
1 glass: 120 calories

BEER (12 OZ BOTTLE)
1 bottle: 150 calories
2 2/3 bottles: 400 calories
1 bottle: 150 calories

MARTINI (4 OZ GLASS)
1 glass: 225 calories
1 3/4 glasses: 390 calories
3/4 glass: 170 calories

COSMO (4 OZ GLASS)
1 glass: 200 calories
2 glasses: 400 calories
1 glass: 200 calories

Salmon and Scallops
1 glass wine
120 + 3 slices pumpernickel with smoked salmon and egg: 150 + 2 scallops wrapped in bacon
100 + 6 large strawberries: 45 = 415 calories
- good fats
- fruits/veggies

Cheeses are around 100 calories per ounce. Hard cheeses like Cheddar and Parmesan are higher in calories than soft cheeses like goat and Brie.

 

Fruits & Desserts:

CANTALOUPE BALLS
3 balls: 10 calories
120 balls: 400 calories
3 balls: 10 calories

LARGE STRAWBERRIES
2 strawberries: 15 calories
52 strawberries: 390 calories
2 strawberries: 15 calories

BROWNIE (2″ SQUARE)
1 brownie: 240 calories
1 2/3 brownies: 400 calories
½ brownie: 120 calories

SUGAR COOKIE (1 OZ)
1 cookie: 140 calories
3 cookies: 420 calories
1 cookie: 140 calories

STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE (1½″ SQUARE)
1 square
180 calories
2¼ squares
405 calories
1 square
180 calories

CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE FROSTING (4 OZ SLICE)
1 slice: 410 calories
1 slice: 410 calories
½ slice: 205 calories

PECAN PIE (8", CUT INTO 6 SLICES)
1 slice: 570 calories
2/3 slice: 380 calories
½ slice: 285 calories

Ditch the crust, and save big on quiches, tarts, and pies.