• Keep the celebration simple. How about a soup, bread, and salad potluck? If some of your guests do not have time to cook, could they help organize or assist with cleanup?
• Have fun with your menu ideas. Be sure to feature fruits, vegetables, whole grains and other healthful foods such as these:
• Red and green apple wedges with lemon yogurt dip
• Parfaits made by layering nonfat vanilla yogurt with frozen red berries
• Pomegranate seeds sprinkled over kiwi slices
• Spinach dip served with red and green pepper strips and whole-grain pita chips
• Slim your recipes. Choose lower-fat versions of your ingredients, such as "light" cream cheese. If you are making a dip, substitute plain nonfat yogurt for the mayonnaise or sour cream. Choose baked chips instead of fried. 
• Remember food safety for holiday gatherings. Perishable food, such as cut fruit and vegetables, salads, meats and casseroles, should spend no more than two hours at room temperature. 
• Use a slow cooker to hold hot foods hot. Keep food warm in the oven until you serve it.
• Keep cold foods cold by making an "ice nest": Set bowls or plates of  food inside or on top of bowls of ice to help keep the food cold. Replace the ice if it melts.
• Make activity part of the celebration. Organize a sledding party. If the weather is too cold outdoors, make room for dancing indoors.
• Explore some new recipes. Visit www.ag.ndsu.edu/food and click on "recipes" for hundreds of foods in categories such as appetizers, soups, breads, and main dishes. Check out all the nutrition resources and videos, too. 

Julie Garden-Robinson, Food and Nutrition Specialist, NDSU Extension Service

Featured in Food Wise December 2014 newsletter (PDF)