Hosting a Low-Carb Snack Party

A low-carb diet can be a delicious way to get healthy and lose weight. And once the sugar cravings have disappeared, it becomes easier to navigate through the breads, pastas, starches and sweets. Meals are satisfying and filling and snacks become fewer and fewer. But what if you're hosting a party and want to serve up plenty of the food you can eat? How can you serve a full variety of snacks at a holiday get together? Can you fill a buffet table for a football party? Can low carb really satisfy everyone at a cocktail soiree? Sure it can!

Serving up a low carb dinner is easy. Centralize the meal with a delicious roast, add some delicious vegetable side dishes and top off the meal with a sugar free cheesecake. But snacks can present a challenge. Here are a few ideas that cover all the tastes and textures you need for a great party!

Crunchy. Standard chips and pretzels are out, so why not make your own? Cut up low carb tortillas, salt and season, and bake for homemade chips. Sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese in a hot skillet and fry until crisp. Add a little fresh cracked pepper for a kick and you have delicious and unique cheese crisps. Take some pepperoni slices and microwave between two sheets of paper towel. Use the towel to absorb excess grease, let cool and the pepperoni become crispy and crunchy chips. Set out a tray of celery, cucumbers, broccoli, radishes and cauliflower next to a bowl of fancy mixed nuts for even more crunch.

Creamy. The dips! Bake up a creamy and cheesy spinach artichoke dip. Put out bowls of dill and French onion dips. Create a cheese ball out of cream cheese, goat cheese, sharp cheddar or any of your favorites and roll in seasonings and crushed nuts. Set out a cheese tray with bleu, brie and creamy goat cheeses.

Sweet. . Bake mini sugar free cheesecakes with fresh berry toppings. Roast pecans or almonds and sauté in Splenda, cinnamon and other sweet spices. Serve up root beer "floats" by pouring a tablespoon of heavy cream in the bottom of a glass before pouring in a diet soda. Make this a cocktail, by adding a little vodka or liquor of your choice.

Substantial. Fry or bake up buffalo wings with real ranch dressing and have a large cheese and sausage tray. Pick up some plain chicken wings and marinate for a chili lime flavor and serve up with salsa.

Alcoholic. Set up a full bar with rail drinks. Rum, gin, vodka and whiskey may not be good for the diet, but they won't add carbs. Add to sugar free mixers for guilt free cocktails. Add sugar free syrups to take the drinks up to the next level. Search out the low cal and low carb beers for those who prefer their drinks with hops and barley.

A low carb snack party can have something to satisfy everyone with some traditional and some new tastes and flavors thrown in. And the best part? You'll have plenty of leftovers to keep your meals and snacks interesting for quite a while!