Setting up for a large gathering in your home requires much planning, especially when it comes to the food. Choosing holiday hors d’oeuvres that are tasty and smile-friendly isn’t always easy. Fortunately, countless recipes for snack-sized bites are available online, making your party preparations less stressful. As you think about your menu, here are three guilt-free foods that will satisfy your guests.
Smoked Salmon Cucumber Rolls
Using thin slices of cucumber, you apply a mixture of cream cheese and smoked salmon, which is more like a paste after being placed into a food processor. Adding some mustard, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and dill, you roll them up and position them onto a platter.
The use of fresh vegetables, fish, and dairy forms to create a bite-sized snack that is not only healthy but also safe for your teeth and gums. The powerful nutrients found in these ingredients help fight against inflammation and bad bacteria, all while giving your enamel added protection, thanks to the dairy found in cream cheese.
Black Olive Penguins
You can have your kids help with these cute treats. Using black olives, carrots, cream cheese, and green onions, you can build the penguins and hold them together with a single toothpick.
Just cut a small wedge out of a carrot slice to create the feet. Slice halfway into a large olive and stuff it with cream cheese before topping it with another stuffed olive, as this will be the head of the penguin. Creating a small triangle out of the carrot, you will use it as the beak. You can then tie a piece of the long green onion around the penguin’s neck to look like a scarf.
With plenty of vitamin A and C, potassium, and calcium, these tiny “animals” will garner much attention, all while protecting your guests’ teeth from harmful decay and cavity-causing bacteria.
Veggie Tray
Who doesn’t love a veggie tray? Complete with tomatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli, and cauliflower, these raw vegetables can act like tiny toothbrushes to keep harmful acids and bacteria from sticking to your teeth.
The chewing motion encourages saliva production, which neutralizes acids that commonly break down enamel.
Give your guests a table full of smile-friendly treats they’ll enjoy. Not only will they leave fully satisfied, but you can feel good knowing their teeth didn’t have to suffer in the process.
About the Practice
Dental Group West wants you and your family to have a wonderful holiday. As you rush around to prepare for various festivities, we invite you to contact us at (419) 539-2168 so that we can help you make healthy choices when it comes to party foods and ways to stay on top of your oral hygiene. We know this time of year can become tricky because of the excuses that exist concerning mealtimes and oral hygiene habits. We’re here to help minimize the risk so that a healthy smile is what we will see at your next visit.