10 healthy and party-friendly recipes

Attending social events while following a diet can seem like an impossible task.

What do you do if your friend invites you over for dinner? What can you take to a family barbeque that isn't a salad? What do you feed guests that come to visit?

Thankfully there are plenty of healthy and delicious snacks that you can take to a party that won't ruin your progress or impact on the scales!

Whether you’re looking for something fancy or super simple, we've got you covered with our suggestions and recipes below.

Vegetable and meat kebabs

Going to a barbecue? Nothing is easier to prepare or more tasty than a kebab! Choose your favourite vegetables and your preferred protein and simply thread them onto skewers, alternating the different ingredients. Mix things up by adding chicken, halloumi, tofu, seafood or even fruits like pineapple. You could also use cubes of squash, button mushrooms or cherry tomatoes. Steer away from hard vegetables like pumpkin and sweet potato, as these take longer to cook. Tip - If using wooden skewers soak them in water while preparing the vegetables. This will prevent them from burning.

RECIPE: Sweet soy BBQ tofu skewers or Greek chicken kebabs

Mini frittatas

Frittatas travel well and can be made ahead of time, making them ideal party food! Whip up some mini egg and veggie frittatas using mini cupcake tins, and if you've got any leftovers you can freeze for another time. Add some fresh or dried herbs and spices to add extra flavour.

RECIPE: Pumpkin and spinach frittata

Homemade tortilla chips and salsa

Cut tortillas up into shapes, lightly spray with olive oil and oven bake for 10-15 mins or until crispy. Enjoy with a fresh salsa of tomato, onion, parsley and corn – and add chilli if you feel like a kick! Garlic fan? Rub the tortilla with cut garlic cloves prior to baking for a lovely burst of flavour.

RECIPE: Mexican salsa

Veggie sticks and dip

Go for a veggie or yoghurt based dip such as hummus, beetroot, pumpkin or tzatziki. You can even try making your own dip at home, adding herbs and spices for a bit of extra flavour! Be as adventurous as you like with the veggie sticks – snow peas, snap peas, green beans, capsicum, carrot and celery are all great for the crunch factor.

RECIPE: Beetroot dip or hummus or spiced carrot dip and grilled eggplant dip

Roasted chickpeas

You can oven roast these yourself or buy packaged ones. If you're looking for packaged ones, choose the unsalted variety. If roasting your own, try adding spices like paprika to add flavour. You'd be surprised at how tasty these little beans can be!

RECIPE: Roasted chickpeas

Rice paper rolls

If you've got a little bit of extra time up your sleeve, make veggie rice paper rolls with any veggies or protein that you fancy! Serve it with a fresh marinade that will be sure to impress any guest.

RECIPE: Marinated chicken rice paper rolls

Fruit platters, skewers or chocolate covered fruit

Cut up any seasonal fruit, arrange on a platter or put onto skewers. Sprinkle with cocoa powder or desiccated coconut for extra taste. You could even dip fruit into melted dark chocolate chips for more of an indulgence.

RECIPE: Rocky road strawberries

Fresh guacamole

Who doesn't love guacamole? Roughly mash up some avocado and add it to the Mexican salsa recipe above. Enjoy it with homemade tortilla chips or veggie sticks!

RECIPE: High protein guacamole

Frozen yoghurt pops

A great way to use in-season fruit, yoghurt pops are a winner for both young and old alike. Use any combination of fruit and yoghurt that you have on hand and blend together. They will keep for up to 2 weeks in the freezer. To make it even more indulgent, you could sprinkle a tablespoon of dark chocolate chips over the top. Try any fruit but remember, frozen fruit is better to get that creamy ice cream texture.

RECIPE: Mango and passionfruit frozen yoghurt pops

Loaded sweet potato wedges

This tasty dish is quite a dense meal which makes it perfect for sharing with others. Think a cross between nachos and wedges and you'll see why it's so popular! Best served hot, but get in quick, because this share dish won't last long.

RECIPE: Loaded Sweet Potato Wedges