When the work week is over and it’s time to relax, many of us like to gather with friends. One of the most fun, festive ways to socialise is with a dinner party. For those of us following a weight loss diet, these two words may make us cringe, but it doesn’t have to be that way. With the right recipes and healthy snacks, you can host a dinner party that won’t force you or your guests to derail from your healthy meal plan.

Treating Yourself Doesn’t Equal Unhealthy

The word “treat” has gotten all wrapped up and tangled with cake, cookies, and other high-kilojoule, low nutrition foods. But “treating” yourself doesn’t have to equal foods that stray from a weight loss diet. Healthy snacks and meals can be a treat, too, especially when you eat them in the company of people you enjoy. And when you choose the right recipes, you and your guests won’t even know the difference between high-kilojoule delectable dishes and healthy meal plans.

Dinner Party Dishes: Equally Delicious and Healthy

The key to planning healthy meals for your dinner party is to choose recipes that get flavour from herbs, spices, and fresh ingredients rather than sugar or fat. Almost anything tastes good when it’s doused in butter or syrup; making meals that fit into a healthy eating plan takes a little more creativity and finesse. Luckily, as a Curves member, you have access to recipes that fit perfectly into diets for women who are trying to lose weight and follow a whole body workout plan.

Building Lasting Relationships with Curves

As a Curves member, you spend a lot of time at the ladies only gym, doing your full body workout, taking Curves classes, and sharing your weight loss experience and fitness relationship goals with other spunky, motivated women just like you. By hosting a dinner party and inviting some of your new (or long-time) Curves friends, you can strengthen your social network, both for weight loss encouragement and friendship outside of Curves. Armed with some new recipes that fit well with your healthy eating plan, you’ll be ready to host a dinner party they’ll all be raving about at Curves.

Here are some suggestions on healthy recipes you can serve at your next dinner party that will please even your pickiest guest.

1. Italian-Style Stuffed Peppers

Our Italian-Style Stuffed Peppers get a healthy twist with the use of turkey mince instead of traditional beef filling. Enjoy this hearty dish all year round. If you’d like to make a larger batch, these freeze well for a quick and easy meal later on.

Ingredients

– 2 tbsps bread crumbs, whole wheat
– 3/4 tsp olive oil
– 3/4 tsp vinegar, balsamic
– 30g Italian sausage
– 75g diced tomatoes, canned, no salt added
– 1 tbsp parsley, fresh
– 1 medium bell pepper, red, raw
– 90g turkey, ground, 99% lean, raw
– 1/4 medium onion, raw
– 125g tomato sauce, canned, meatless, no salt added
– 1/2 cube beef broth or bouillon, reduced sodium
– 1 red pepper, crushed
– 1 clove garlic, raw
– 7.5g parmesan cheese

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 190°C.
2. Chop onion. In a large skillet, sauté onion in olive oil over medium heat until onion begins to soften, about 5 minutes. Set ½ sautéed onion aside in a large bowl.
3. Stir tomato sauce, beef broth, balsamic vinegar and red pepper flakes into the skillet; cook for about 1 minute until heated through.
4. Pour tomato sauce mixture into a large baking dish and set aside.
5. Combine breadcrumbs, ground turkey, sausage, diced tomatoes, chopped parsley, minced garlic, and cayenne pepper into the large mixing bowl with the sautéed onions; mix to combine well.
6. Stir in ½ parmesan cheese. Set meat mixture aside.
7. Slice the peppers in half and discard the membranes. Stuff each half of the peppers with the meat mixture and place inside the baking dish with the tomato sauce. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese over the stuffed
8. Cover the baking dish with aluminium foil and bake for 45 minutes.
9. Remove aluminium foil and bake another 20-25 minutes until the meat is cooked through and the cheese is bubbly.
10. Enjoy peppers topped with tomato sauce.

Tips: 125g tomato sauce = 1/2 cup; 175g diced tomatoes = 1/4 cup; 7.5g parmesan = 2 Tbsp; 15g Italian sausage = size of 1/3 of a deck of cards; 90g ground turkey = size of a deck of cards

Serves: 1

Per serving: 383 calories, 13g total fat, 841mg sodium, 31.6 g carbohydrates, 6.2 g fibre, 36g protein

2. Vegetable Frittata with Pita Bread

With spinach, corn and onion, get your fill of veggies in this flavorful dish!

Ingredients

– 1 tbsp olive oil
– 2 cups chopped bell pepper
– 1 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen
– 1/2 cup chopped green onion
– 4 large egg whites
– 2 medium eggs
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1/2 tsp black pepper*
– 4 cups clean, fresh spinach
– 110g oz goat cheese

*You can substitute paprika or Aleppo pepper, a Middle Eastern flake pepper.

Directions

1. Heat oven to 200°C.
2. Coat a nonstick ovenproof pan with vegetable spray. Add the oil. Sauté the peppers 6 to 7 minutes, or until tender.
3. Add the corn and the onion, sauté until cooked, and remove from the heat.
4. In a medium bowl, beat the egg whites with the whole eggs. Add the salt and black pepper.
5. Return the pan with the vegetables to the heat. Add the spinach and cook 4 to 5 minutes, or until wilted.
6. Pour the egg mixture into the pan and distribute the vegetables evenly.
7. Place the goat cheese on the frittata and put the pan in the oven.
8. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, until set and golden brown. Sprinkle with more black pepper. Cut in 6 wedges and serve.

Serves: 4

Per serving: 1,334 kilojules, 13.7g fat, 31.1g carbohydrates, 5.8g fibre, 20.5g protein

3. Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients

– 1 medium onion
– 2 cloves garlic
– 1 tsp cumin
– 8 tsps olive oil
– 680g chicken breast, boneless, skinless
– 4 tbsp lime Juice
– 8 tortilla chips, unsalted
– 1.8L vegetable broth, low sodium
– 2 cups sliced mushrooms
– 2-4 jalapeno peppers (optional)
– 1 cup sweet corn
– 1 cup salsa, low sodium

Directions

1. Dice onion and mince garlic. In a large saucepan, sauté diced onion, minced garlic, and cumin in olive oil until the onion begins to soften.
2. Cube chicken breast and add with salsa into saucepan. Cook for 2 minutes. Add chicken broth, mushrooms, corn, and lime juice to the pan. Simmer until chicken is cooked through.
3. Slice jalapenos and add for extra heat. Crumble tortilla chips on top.

Serves: 4

Per Serving: 1,698 kilojules, 15g fat, 29g carbohydrate, 4g fibre, 40g protein

Curves Nutrition Program: Enjoy one serving on Phase 1 or 2 for lunch or dinner.

 

These are just a few examples of healthy, flavorful recipes you can find at Curves. There are also many more delicious ideas for your next dinner party, for appetizers, healthy snacks, and your main course.

To find out more about how you can informed lifestyle and health choices, visit our blog under the ‘Live’ category! You can also learn more about how the Curves Circuit can benefit your lifestyle here.