Going on safari this holiday season?

December 18th, 2008

Hi, Everyone –

Navigating holiday parties is like being on safari – and not in a good way. At every turn, there is something lurking, waiting to jump out at you. But in this case, it’s not a lion or panther, it’s cheese dip and cookies. One of the most popular “party tricks” is to eat before you go to holiday parties to make sure you don’t overindulge, but that is assuming that you are only going to eat if you are hungry, which isn’t always the case.

It can be difficult to say “no thank you” when you are trying to relax and partake in some holiday cheer, but there is still hope! Whether you are hosting the party, or just bringing an a la carte dish to another, you can at least make sure your holiday dish is healthy. That way, you know there will be at least one thing you can snack on without feeling guilty. Check out the recipe below from MedicineNet.com for a healthy, delicious spinach dip.

Best Spinach Dip Recipe

This is a light rendition of that colorful and tasty party staple, the spinach-dip-stuffed sourdough round. You can make the dip and carve out the sourdough round a day ahead of time. Keep the bread in extra-large resealable bag and the dip, covered, in the refrigerator. Then fill the bread “bowl” with dip just before the party. (If you like, skip the bread bowl and serve with slices of whole-wheat sourdough or French bread, or with whole-grain trackers

Ingredients:
• 1/3 cup real mayonnaise
• 2 1/3 cup fat-free or light sour cream (whichever brand you find tastes best)
• 1 box dry leek soup mix or vegetable soup mix (1.8 ounce)
• 1 cup finely chopped jicama
• 10 ounce package frozen, chopped spinach (thaw, drain, and squeeze out excess water)
• 1 pound round loaf of sourdough bread (or similar type)

Preparation:
In a medium bowl, mix together mayonnaise, sour cream, leek soup mix, jicama, and chopped spinach. Chill in the refrigerator 6 hours or overnight. Remove top and interior of sourdough bread round, making a bowl. Fill with spinach mixture. Cut the carved-out bread top into bite-sized cubes for dipping. Serve the spinach dip-filled bread bowl with the bread cubes.

Yield:
Makes 1 bread bowl (about 16 appetizer servings, 1/3 cup of dip each).

Nutritional Information:
Per serving: 161 calories, 5.5 g protein, 24 g carbohydrate, 4.5 g fat (0.8 g saturated fat, 1.4 g monounsaturated fat, 2.1 g polyunsaturated fat), 3 mg cholesterol, 2 g fiber, 295 mg sodium. Calories from fat: 26%.

Dr. Snyder

Entry Filed under: Eating Healthy, Uncategorized