What’s a party without a tableful of great snacks? Chips and dips, crackers and cheese, crunchy things and creamy things? Not much fun, that's for sure.

But if you are watching your weight (go down), you have to be careful not to overindulge on high-calorie, nutrient-poor munchies. Does this mean that your parties will be a big, bland bore? No way!

Party Meatballs

16 oz lean ground beef
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 tsp salt
Dash pepper
Finely ground breadcrumbs
Pan spray
1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
BBQ & other dipping sauces

Put ground beef in a bowl.
Add onion and garlic powders, Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Mix in sufficient breadcrumbs to make a mixture that
can be formed into balls that stay together easily
(not too wet or too dry).
Form mixture into balls (golf ball size).
Brown the balls in a well-sprayed frying pan.
Add vegetable broth, and simmer until balls are cooked through.
Serve on toothpicks with dips.

Stuffed Mushrooms

Make small meatballs, as above, but don't fry them.
Remove stems from medium-size button mushrooms (cleaned).
Put mushrooms hollow side up in a greased baking pan.
Put a meatball inside each mushroom, pressing down lightly to fit.
Spray lightly with olive oil spray.
Bake at 325 F for 15 minutes, or until done.
Just before they are done, sprinkle with grated Parmesan,
and return to oven briefly to brown.

Onion Dip

1/4 cup dried onion flakes
1 Tbs onion bouillon powder (or vegetable bouillon powder)
Sweetener to taste
Salt and pepper
1 cup sour cream (low-fat)

Toast onion flakes in a dry frying pan over med-low heat
until light brown and fragrant. Cool.
Mix with bouillon powder.
Add to sour cream, and mix well.
Add sweetener, salt and pepper to taste.
Chill until serving time.

Serve with wholegrain crackers, breads, and raw veggies.

VARIATION: Garlic Dip

Prepare Onion Dip, except omit onion flakes,
and substitute minced minced dried garlic to taste.

Spinach Dip

8 oz sour cream (low-fat)
8 oz cream cheese (low-fat)
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
1 envelope onion soup mix
1/4 cup finely minced water chestnuts or jicama
1 - 2 Tbs dried onion flakes

Thaw spinach, and squeeze out as much water as you can.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.
Chill well.
Serve with pita triangles, crackers, bread, or veggie sticks.

VARIATION:
Use other veggie(s) in place of spinach.

Crab Dip

8 oz cream cheese (low-fat), softened
1/2 cup sour cream (low-fat)
1 tsp prepared horseradish (or to taste)
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 Tbs chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tsps dried)
Hot sauce (to taste)
1 cup crabmeat, imitation crabmeat, or vegetarian crabmeat, crumbled
Wholegrain crackers and vegetable sticks

In a bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, horseradish, mustard, parsley, and hot sauce. Mix well.
Gently stir in crabmeat.
Chill until serving time.
Serve in a bowl, surrounded by plates of crackers and veggie sticks.

Carrot Corn Cheese Dip

2 medium carrots, peeled and very finely shredded
8 oz cream cheese (low-fat)
4 - 8 oz shredded cheddar (low-fat)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 tsp crushed dried mixed herbs
1/2 cup cooked corn

Put all ingredients in food processor.
Process to a chunky puree[].
Pack into a small, greased loaf pan.
Cover with foil.
Bake at 350 F until hot (20 - 30 minutes).

Vegetarian Liverwurst

3 Tbs vegetable oil
1 large sweet onion, peeled and chopped
1 package Gimme Lean Sausage Flavor, crumbled into small bits
1/4 cup bakon bits (like Bac*Os)
1/2 cup chopped pecans
Salt and pepper (to taste)

In a large frying pan, heat the oil over medium heat.
Add the onions and saute[] slowly, stirring frequently, until golden brown,
about 10 minutes.
Add Gimme Lean, and saute[] until lightly browned.
Add bakon bits, and saute[] 1 minute.
Transfer the sauteed mixture to a food processor or blender.
Add the pecans. Process to a smooth paste.
Transfer the mixture into a bowl.
Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cover, and refrigerate until cold, at least 30 minutes.
Keep refrigerated.

Crispy Party Snack

Chex-type wholegrain cereal
Pan spray (any flavor)
Nutritional yeast
Salt
Spices and herbs of your choice

Spread cereal out on a large plate.
Spray with vegetable spray, coating all pieces.
Sprinkle with seasonings.
Sprinkle generously with nutritional yeast.
Microwave 2 minutes.
Stir gently.
Microwave another minute.
Let cool.
Put into a bowl, and serve.
Sprinkle on more seasonings, if desired.

VARIATION: "Fried Pork Rinds"

Sprinkle cereal with nutritional yeast, hickory smoked salt, and sugar substitute.
Cook as directed in previous recipe.