LIFESTYLE | The Lady Entertains
Hosting a Healthy Summer Potluck BY KRISTA EHRET
Pitch-ins are a mainstay in the summer. Usually the host provides the main course (something to be grilled), and guests come bearing a side or dessert. It goes hand in hand with the casual backyard atmosphere and everyone has their go-to tried and true recipe for such an occasion. In honor of our health issue, I’m offering a challenge for your next potluck style party. Ask each guest to bring something healthy. You’d think that since many of the parties are centered around a pool that we’d be more conscientious of our selections, but that’s not always the case. Hot dogs, hamburgers, beer, potato or pasta salad, beans, corn, maybe a veggie tray, chips and cookies, these are some of the usual menu selections. While I agree that this type of gathering calls for easy dishes that are also crowd pleasers, I think there are slight adaptations that can steer the fare from bloat worthy to bikini friendly. The first step is identifying your version of “healthy.” There are many different opinions on this definition. Paleo, Keto and Whole30 are all fad diets that have taken over our Pinterest feed in the last few years. Personally, I tend to be wary of committing to anything that cuts out an entire food group, has very restrictive rules or is called a diet. I just know that this won’t be something I can stick to for the rest of my life. For me, the way I eat needs to be a lifestyle. Meaning that it’s a way of life that I can incorporate day to day and year to year without getting burnt out. I prefer eating
whole foods, minimally processed, refined sugar and carbs only in moderation and some organic foods. Anytime you’re asking guests to chip in, you never want to feel overly restrictive and bossy, but also don’t want to end up with ten varieties of deviled eggs. I prefer to assign a category versus an actual item. This way you ensure that you have a wellrounded meal, but everyone can still select their own dish. When inviting everyone this time, assign your category, but add the challenge of the recipe to be a healthy one. An easy way to go about this is to do more veggies and eliminate any casseroles or “salad” options that are mayonnaise or pasta based. Dessert and drinks may be the biggest hurdle. Since the host typically provides
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the alcohol, you can weigh your options and decide how to proceed. Some healthy(ish) choices are light beer, vodka tonics with fresh lime juice and the popular spiked seltzers. Dessert will likely be assigned, so maybe ask the guest to just bring some watermelon or a mixed fruit salad that can be put over ice cream or topped with whipped cream. There’s support in numbers and I believe that most people genuinely want to eat healthier. It makes it that much easier when those around you are on board. I think guests will view this as a much-needed reprieve post summer vacation splurge.
KRISTA EHRET
The Lady Entertains
From intimate dinner parties to huge annual events, Krista believes we can always find an excuse to celebrate. With a background in interior and event design, she loves bringing people together in a beautiful and welcoming environment.