Holiday Party Tips from SHAPE Magazine

Healthy tips for your body and your wallet

From the LifeMInute team

November 12, 2013

'Tis the season for holiday entertaining! We caught up with SHAPE Magazine's Bahar Takhtehchian last week, for some tips and latest goods to make it just a little bit easier.

She says start with the essentials for setting your holiday table. Bahar's go-to destination to get it all is Bed Bath and Beyond. "You can find everything you need whether you're throwing a casual party or something a little more formal," she says.

If it's a casual gathering, Bahar says you can use your everyday white dinnerware with some affordable flatware and festive drinkware sets (also great to use all yearlong!).

Or for a more formal affair you can take it up a notch "fine china, flatware and beautiful crystal wine glasses!"

Looking for some inspiration, head over to bedbathbeyond.com/holiday for entertaining tips, videos, recipes, even a holiday checklist.

Now what about the food. Bahar says start with some snacks, like cheese and crackers. She likes Nabisco's new Rice Thins. "They're gluten free, light in texture, crispy, delicious and they've got an irrespirable crunch to them." You can mix it up for your guest with three enticing flavors, White Rice Original, Brown Rice Sea Salt and Pepper and Brown Rice White Cheddar.

Another staple starter is the salad. It's best to give guests a few dressing options. Check out Opa by Litehouse . "It's the first company to bring a Greek inspired dressing to the marketplace, it's also gluten free and it has fewer calories and more protein than your typical dressings."

Serve it up on your salad or use it for dips for your favorite veggies. Get it in Feta Dill, Bleu Cheese, Ranch and Caesar. Best part...it's made from fresh ingredients and has no trans fats, MSG or artificial preservatives. Find it in the refrigerated section of your local grocery store.

And what would the holidays be without dessert. Bahar says a great option is gelato. Her fave is Talenti, the best selling gelato brand in the country. "It's made with top quality best tasting ingredients that are carefully sourced."

They have great limited edition holiday flavors like Peppermint Bark and Old World Eggnog. Or their top selling year round Tahitian Vanilla Bean (perfect atop your holiday pie!). No need to feel guilty because it has 30% less fat than regular ice cream. 2 scoops please!

Sponsored