It seems like ages ago when Charlotte and I used to regularly make a meal out of appetizers. If I had a dollar for every time we enjoyed mozzarella sticks and potato skins, I could rebalance my retirement fund.
Two bouts with cancer (prostate, me; breast, Charlotte) have us eating better, healthier and (although I don't like admitting it) even tastier food. I'll cop to an occasional potato skin, but these days our default setting is more low fat and a lot better for us.
If you'd like to take a page from our dietary playbook, check out these tasty appetizers you can eat without the gluttonous guilt.
1. Lettuce Wraps
Ditch the spicy chicken wings and try a lettuce wrap instead. You can make these at home by wrapping diced spicy chicken and vegetables in a lettuce leaf. Each wrap has 160 calories and about 7 g of fat.
2. Shrimp Cocktail
We're BIG shrimp fans - especially when we go to the beach. You may be surprised to learn that a shrimp cocktail is a healthier appetizer alternative. It's very low in saturated fat and calories and comes with a healthy dose of omega-3 fatty acids (great for circulation). Stick to a tomato-based dipping sauce and you'll only rack up about 140 calories.
3. Vegetable Soup
Charlotte's favorite vegetable soup is another good choice. The key is choosing a low-calorie, low-sodium option. A 12-ounce bowl has about 160 calories and 3.5 grams of fat.
4. Edamame
Now for something completely different...these green pods called edamame (soybeans to you and me) are a popular appetizer in Asian restaurants. You'll get about 122 calories, and 5 g of fat in a typical serving.
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