By Meredith West

It’s Party Time!!

As CK client and now, a CK Coach, one of my favorite things about Clean Kitchen 12 Week Challenge is sharing how amazing and delicious healthy food can be! Whether, it is a church pot-luck, dinner party with friends, tailgate or a breakfast/brunch social, I love serving Clean Kitchen food!! Food is so much more than just food, it does more than just fuel our bodies. Food is celebrating, food is making memories, food is spending time with our family and friends. It could be so easy to let every event, birthday dinner, night out, or tailgate sabotage our well-laid plans for our health and fitness goals. With a little planning in advance, or offering to host in your own home, you too can share CK foods with others.

Shhhhh…they’ll never know!

Celebrating does not have to mean compromising your goals. I’ll let you in on a secret…I do not let people know ahead of time that we will be eating CK food! I just do it and let the compliments come rolling in! Below you will find the perfect food ideas for your next event. We even created a you a PDF download of this post with links in the titles to most of the recipes. Some recipes we included in the PDF. Enjoy! (*Not all are Clean Kitchen Recipes. Some recipes are from @fitkidskitchen on Instagram, our sister program for the kiddos of CK. Some ideas are recipes I have made and “revamped” from Pinterest. Pinterest is a wonderful place for ideas!)

DIPS

CK Ranch or CK Avocado Ranch with veggie tray Veggies with Hummus Dip

Greek 7 Layer Dip from skinnytaste.com

Image courtesy of skinnytaste.com

Fruit with CK Protein Fruit Dip

You may be thinking “no way” this can be good, but TRUST ME. Make it. It taste just as good as the sugar loaded fruit dip. It is a highlight of any brunch or party.

Guacamole served with Carrots, cucumbers or mini bell peppers

Make your own or just go by some store bought. We like the brand Wholly Guacamole or swing by Qdoba and pick up some of their amazing guacamole!!

Image courtesy of Pinterest.com

MINI-BITES

CK Mini Salmon Cakes with Dill Dipping Sauce

Make the CK salmon cakes in bite-size portions!

CK Mini Buffalo Chicken Dippers

This is just the Buffalo Chicken burger made in mini patties! One of our clients did this for a party with the CK Ranch. Two pounds of meat will make about 36 mini burgers.

CK Baked Drummettes or wings

This is the same recipe used for the baked drumsticks or thighs, just mini! The kids love these too. Make some CK Ranch to dip them in.

Mini Pepper Nachos

Halved mini bell peppers, sprinkled with turkey taco meat, jalapeno slice, sprinkle reduced fat cheese. Broil under broiler until cheese melts.

Image courtesy of skinnyms.com

Mini CK Meatloaf muffins or meatballs

Jalapeno Poppers from homemadenutrition.com

1. Half jalapeño, scrap out the seeds (use gloves!)
2. spread with Greek yogurt cream cheese
3. sprinkle with crumbled bacon
4. Bake 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes

Image courtesy of homemadenutrition.com

BRUNCH

Almond & Orange muffins (CK Cookbook)

Make any of the CK baked goods into mini muffins for perfect finger food. One batch of these muffins makes 36!

Ingredients: 1 1/4 cup almond flour, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 2tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1.5tsp almond extract, 4 eggs, 1/4 cup honey, 1/4 cup EVOO, 3/4cup low sugar orange juice, 1 scoop quest vanilla protein, 1/4 cup Greek yogurt plain, 1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1/2 cup toasted almond slivers, 2tsp powdered sugar.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350. Mix dry ingredients together in large bowl. In food processor blend eggs, orange juice, honey, almond extract, Greek yogurt and applesauce. Combine dry and wet and blend on high for 1 min. Fold in toasted almonds last. Spray mini muffin tins with Pam Olive oil spray and bake 20-25 mins. Transfer to wire rack to cool and sift with powdered sugar. Batter makes 36 mini muffins! Enjoy!

CK Protein Banana Bread Kellar's Chicken Salad on Apple Slices Or Avocado Ranch Chicken Salad Wraps Sweet Potato Blondie

Think "sweet potato casserole" for these yummy bites! Just cut these in smaller bite size squares for a perfect sweet bite.

Protein Chocolate Banana Bread (@fitkidskitchen on Instagram) Basically this the Banana bread recipe with cocoa powder and some dark chocolate chips thrown in the mix.

Fruit and CK Protein fruit dip - pretty much good for any party :) You can also make a "Parfait" Bar assorted fruits, Protein Fruit Dip and nuts for a little crunch. Fruit salad

with J. Olive Co. Pomegranate Balsamic and Blood Orange Olive Oil.

We think pairing this with the Protein Fruit dip to make a "parfait" would be a perfect dessert!

Egg Muffins or CK Frittata (CK CookBook)

Anytime Egg Muffins:

12 Servings

• 7 beaten eggs
• 2-3 Tbsp milk (dairy or non-dairy)
• Ingredients of your choice chopped ( spinach, mushrooms, peppers, taco meat, ham, broccoli, )
• Parmesan to sprinkle
• Salt and pepper
• Spray olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray muffin tin with olive oil spray. Whisk 7 eggs, mils and salt and pepper. Add chopped ingredients to muffin cups. Pour egg mixture into each well to come near the top. Sprinkle with cheese.
2. Bake for 15-20 minutes until eggs are set.

Kellar's Avocado Brownies

Ingredients:

1 large avocado, 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce, 1tsp vanilla extract, 3/4 cup egg beaters, 1/4 - 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup coconut flour, 1/4-1/2 cup cocoa, 1 tsp baking soda

Directions: In food processor blend avocado, apple sauce, honey, and vanilla. Transfer to large bowl and whisk in egg beaters. Then add coconut flour, cocoa, baking soda. Bake @ 350 degrees for 25 mins or a little less for a fudgier consistency. Enjoy!

MAINS

Feed a crowd with these recipes that you can double up easily. CK Spicy Bean Chili with CK Protein Cornbread CK Spicy Shrimp and Sausage

Coach Jamie makes this every year for her annual Christmas party! You can eat this alone or over grits. There is nothing wrong with pleasing two types of crowds. Feel free to make the CK Cauliflower grits and regular grits.

CK White Bean Chicken Chili

This can come together in no time! Use store bought rotisserie chicken, grill some chicken or pan cook it. This soup will simmer for only about 15 minutes!

CK Sweet Potato Lasagna with Big green salad with J. Olive Co balsamic and oil combo!

J. Olive Co. infused balsamic and olive oils are our go-to for dressing a salad. One of our favorites is the J. Olive Co. strawberry balsamic with basil infused olive oil. Throw together with spinach, chopped strawberries, some low fat blue cheese or a handful of walnuts, and you have perfect, no-fuss side salad.

Grilled pork tenderloin with Roasted veggies

• marinade in 2 TBSP Dijon mustard
• equal parts or J. Olive Co. Neapolitan Balsamic and Garlic Infused Olive Oil
• salt and pepper

Image courtesy of Pinterest.com

Hamburgers/Hamburger Salad with oven roasted sweet potato fries (CK Cookbook) This is perfect for summer! We love to make our burgers in a bowl with all the fixings. Load up that bowl with pickles, tomatoes, onions, mustard, a little ketchup, on a bed of spinach. For your "fries" just slice up some sweet potatoes, spritz with EVOO spray and season. Bake at 425 degrees for about 25 minutes. CK Taco/Fajita Salad Bar (CK Cookbook) Super easy and a crowd pleaser! All you have to do is cook the taco meat and set out all the fillers. We have also used Qdoba Catering the "Coach Jamie" Salad for a corporate nutrition talk! Build your taco bar:

• Spinach or romain
• chopped tomatoes or grape tomatoes or pico de gallo
• guacamole or chopped avocado - we use this in place of cheese!
• Salsa - any kind
• non-fat plain greek yogurt in place of sour cream
• pickled jalapeños
• black beans
• fajita peppers and onions
• fajita chicken, steak of taco ground meat

Download this complete post here.

PDF has web links to recipes in the titles of the recipes listed. Find out more about the Clean Kitchen 12 Week Challenge here.