Deck your holiday table with an all-new style of festive party fare, It's lighter, leaner, and still as luscious as ever. To help you create a guilt-free spread, nationally renowned chefs and food writers share the best-ever finger foods and desserts. Your friends will relax and enjoy the party, knowing that these richly flavored recipes are low in fat and calories.

Each food professional supports Project LEAN (Low-fat Eating for America Now), a national campaign that promotes low-fat shopping, cooking, and dining. For more information about Project LEAN and Lean Entertaining Tips, see page 168.

LEAN ENTERTAINING TIPS

Lighten your holiday fare without losing the flavors you love-- * Strive for balance in your menu. It's OK to serve one or two favorite splurge foods. Just fill in with lighter, more healthful dishes. * Place nutritious nibbles within arm's reach. Set trays of cut-up fresh vegetables or fruits around the room. For a simple dip, stir herbs into lower-fat mayonnaise or fruit preserves into nonfat yogurt. * Use the leanest meat cuts available and use less. Stretch the reduced amount of meat by cutting it into smaller pieces or by adding vegetables, rice, or grains. * Start with less. When recipes call for a high amount of fat, try using less, especially in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces. * Use nonstick spray coating for greasing baking pans and frying. Lighten up dairy-rich dishes with low-fat options. Look for part-skim cheeses and lower-fat versions of cheddar, Swiss, and other cheeses. Replace cream cheese with light cream cheese and cream with low-fat milk or evaporated skim milk. * Turn light desserts into showstoppers with creative garnishing. To paint plates with delicious designs, place pureed fruit in plastic squirt bottles and paint away. Or, add a glistening glaze to fresh or poached fruit with melted jelly.

MORE ABOUT PROJECT LEAN

Project LEAN (Low-fat Eating for America Now) is a national nutrition education campaign sponsored by the National Center for Nutrition and Dietetics (NCND), the public education initiative of The American Dietetic Association. Its goal is to help Americans strive for a leaner, more healthful diet. Project LEAN also works with chefs and food companies in an effort to encourage tasty food choices that are low in fat. For more information or a free copy of Project LEAN's New Lean Toward Health booklet, call the NCND's Consumer Nutrition Hotline: 800/366-1655.

EVERY RECIPE ANALYZED