The trend these days is towards healthier “whole” foods. If making wise food choices is a part of your everyday life, it makes sense to extend that philosophy to your wedding reception. These are some great ideas on planning healthy wedding menus that everyone will love.

Most of us associate parties and celebrations with indulgence. We eat rich foods, and more of them, than we would on an ordinary day. Weddings are no exception! While it might sound impossible to design a wedding menu that is healthy and yet special enough for a festive occasion, it can be done. The key is to make the soundest food choices you can, while still designing dishes that are full of flavor and really satisfying. It may take a special caterer to work with you on this project.

An easy way to make your wedding menu healthier is to include organic foods whenever possible. If you are having an eco-friendly wedding and wearing handmade wedding jewelry and carrying wildflowers, this idea has probably already crossed your mind. Opt for organic veggies, antibiotic and hormone-free meats, and even organic dairy products like cheese. You can even serve organic wine at the dinner table.

Another way to make your wedding menu more healthy is to stay away from foods with a lot of fat and calories. This can be easier than it sounds. Instead of dousing a side of asparagus in a rich hollandaise sauce, roast the asparagus and drizzle it with a balsamic vinaigrette. Serve small dishes of olive oil with fresh bread rather than the standard rolls with butter. Choose a lean cut of meat for the main course, or offer a seafood option such as salmon. If you have a pasta option for dinner, make it a lighter dish such as bow tie noodles with seasonal vegetables, a little olive oil, and fresh herbs. It would be a delicious alternative to an ultra-rich pasta like fettuccine Alfredo or cheese-stuffed manicotti.

Think about ways to trim the fat and calories in your appetizers as well. This in no way means serving your guests spartan platters of “diet food” like plain raw vegetables or rice cakes, but you could substitute protein-rich hummus for a heavy sour cream based dip. Often you can find inspiration in other cultural traditions which make excellent alternatives to the usual wedding hors d’oeuvres. How about Greek stuffed grape leaves instead of pigs in a blanket? A spicy Thai shrimp platter will be full of flavor, but healthier than breaded and fried shrimp. Once you start looking around, you will find that there are actually many ways to “healthify” your wedding menu without sacrificing taste and variety.

We all know that things which are handmade tend to be superior to mass produced or heavily processed ones, whether you are talking about wedding jewelry or wedding food. Request that your caterer works with as many fresh “whole” ingredients as possible, rather than using foods which come pre-made from a large distributor. Not only will they be less processed and more nutritious, the fresh versions will be more flavorful and enjoyable to eat. It is kind of like the difference between getting a hamburger at McDonald’s or making one at home from the freshest beef available on home baked rolls. Your guests will surely notice the difference and will appreciate all the effort that went into creating a menu which they can enjoy without the usual guilt of overindulgence.

Author Bio: Bridget Mora writes for Silverland Jewelry about wedding planning, style, and trends. At http://silverlandjewelry.com/, we carry an exclusive collection of handmade wedding jewelry which is perfect for the bride and bridesmaids. Order today and receive free shipping on your jewelry order over $99.

Category: Marriage
Keywords: handmade wedding jewelry, wedding menu, wedding food, healthy wedding food