Getting together with family and friends is essential and wonderful– that being said, when you’re in the beginning stages of a new clean eating lifestyle gatherings can be challenging. You basically feel like you have two choices:
a.) eat nothing, literally nothing. Everything is either a carb or some sort of high fat dairy product
b.) blow all the hard work you’ve been putting in just so you don’t stick out.
It doesn’t have to be that way!
Whenever I am invited to someone’s home I offer to bring something. (Don’t most of us?) When the host/hostess graciously accepts I then have the green light to make something that fits my lifestyle, but also would please the group. One of my favorite go-to appetizers is a layered hummus dip. (pictured above) It’s so simple I am confident the lousiest of cooks can pull it off.
All you have to do is layer the following:
- your favorite store bought hummus (you could make it, but let’s not reinvent the wheel)
- crumbled feta cheese
- chopped tomatoes
- sliced green onions (scallions for you fancy folks)
- chopped kalamata olives
I serve mine with slices of cucumber and sweet bell peppers. Sometimes I take pita chips for the group in case there are people there who haven’t embraced cucumbers as vehicles for dip and require a cracker.
Bottom line is don’t use these gatherings as an excuse to forgo what you’ve been working so hard for. It’s ok to let your hair down a little and enjoy some tasty treats; just make sure you equip yourself with a go to that doesn’t blow your commitment out of the water.
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