As published in Owen Sound & Grey Bruce Life – August 2007.

I recently returned from a trip to BC where my hosts took us for a day at the beach on the Vancouver shores. All around us were groups of friends or families with their footballs, bocce ball sets, and portable barbeques with giant picnic lunches to occupy their day in the sun. Back here in Ontario, pool parties, backyard barbeques, and potluck dinners are also a quality opportunity to bond over food. What better time to feed those you love healthy food options?

I was once going through a client’s freezer and they commented that the frozen burgers and hotdogs found there weren’t something they personally ate, but leftovers from a kids’ hockey party they hosted. Isn’t it a little odd that we feed our friends and guests food we know isn’t good for us, but because it is easy to prepare en masse and is the ‘norm’ at these types of events, we feel it’s acceptable?

As the tides are turning and more people want to eat healthy, this is your golden opportunity to make change. I recently hosted a ‘healthy’ potluck dinner at Kinexions. The concept obviously was to bring a dish that was good for you, but the beauty of it all was that everyone there was at different levels of ‘healthiness’. Some chose to bring the baked or low sodium options of packaged foods whereas others made gluten and dairy free salads or baked goods from scratch. And the great thing about the whole experience was that no one judged anyone’s attempt to make healthy baby-step changes. They all appreciated that some extra effort was made to consider the health aspect of eating. Remember it’s not about going overboard all at once, but it’s the little things that make a huge impact.

When you’re next entertaining why not consider these options –

• Offering chicken breast as well as burgers or steak for a white-meat option
• Using block cheese instead of processed cheese slices or cheeze whiz
• Grilling vegetables or fruit and offering various lettuce salads so produce is a dominant factor in the meal
• Making pasta salads with whole grain or brown rice noodles and a vinaigrette dressing instead of a mayo-based one
• Supplying whole grain buns or breads, and 100% fruit juice and water instead of pop and punch
• Using re-usable plates, cutlery, and glasses to reduce the environmental impact

You may think, ‘people aren’t going to want healthy, they want what they’ve always had’. I had some spouses comment at the potluck that in the beginning they were tempted to go for burgers and fries, but actually really enjoyed the food that was brought. Being a good healthy host is providing foods that are supportive of good health, or at least supplying the option for your guests to make healthy choices if they desire.

Be conscious of the foods you are serving on a regular basis as well as entertaining. Show your love through providing nutritious foods to support their health and well-being. Help turn the tide with your health-conscious decisions. Your guests will appreciate it immensely.

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