Let’s face it, after a month straight of holiday parties with decadent foods, cookies, homemade fudge, and other holiday treats, its usually a relief for the New Year’s Diet to begin. If you are hosting a New Years, Christmas, or other holiday party, there is no reason not to get a head start on next year’s diet (not to mention a welcome relief from the season’s decadence.) With this delicious spread of foods, your guests won’t even notice the menu is low-cab and high protein. Just keep some chips and buttery crackers out for your carb craving guests.

Low Carb Appetizers that can be Prepared in a Snap

A tub of store bought hummus is just under 5 carbs* per serving. Transfer the hummus to a pretty bowl and serve with it with chopped vegetables (buy pre chopped ones from your grocery market’s salad bar or the bagged kind in the produce section) and whole grain pita chips. You can also mix your own ranchdressing with a mix packet and a tub of sour cream–the full fat kind has less carbs than the reduced or non fat kinds. Serve your veggies alongside.

Top a round of Boursin cheese or a block of cream cheese with preparedpesto, olive tapenade, and/or sun dried tomato pesto. Create a festive look by using all three toppings side by side, for a tri-colored topping. Depending on the combination of cheese and toppings, this dip is about 2-4 carbs per serving. Serve with chopped veggies or whole grain crackers.

A platter of cheese and sliced deli meats is a superb low carb dish. Almost all cheeses and meats are less than 1 carb per serving. Small bowls of olives, pickled peppers, and pickles are a nice complement to a meat and cheese platter. Serve with whole grain crackers and artisan bread. A nice variety of nuts such as almonds, cashews, and peanuts are great finger foods. Purchase the regular salted kind but keep an eye out for more exotically flavored kinds.

Low Carb Party Drinks

Wine is the classic low carb beverage to serve with any party food, with only 2 carbs per glass of red wine and 1 carb per glass of white wine. If you prefer a mixed drink with zero carbs, try a Rum and Diet Coke or a Salty Dog. A salty dog is made by salting the rim of a margarita or highball glass then adding tequila and Diet Squirt to taste.

*Note: Only digestible carbs are counted when listed. Digestible carbs are total carbs minus the grams of fiber.