The best memories of special events in our lives involve food. One strategy for healthier living is to find ways to incorporate healthy food into pleasant experiences. Substitute healthy snacks for high fat sugar laden treats will whittle your waist line and make you feel better. Finding healthy snack ideas will prevent a fun event from being the trigger that sabotages diet resolutions.

Preparing food platters that include vegetables and fruits with low fat dips is a good way to stave off hunger pangs. The pleasure of most events revolves around the food. Most of the time the food is not nutritious. By preparing and serving wholesome snacks at parties and get-togethers for friends and family, everyone will start to develop a healthy association between good healthy eating and enjoyable fun experiences.

We love the taste of hearty fat laden foods for snacks. Bean dips, Buffalo wings, potato salad and fried foods are favorite snacks that Americans prepare for entertaining friends and family. But there are healthy alternatives that taste as good and are good for you. You can transform a high calorie party dip into a wholesome version by using low fat sour cream or cream cheese.

Another favorite snack for a get together is the 7-layer bean dip. This dish is usually high in sodium, calories and fat. By minimizing the items that are high in these areas and adding plenty of healthy vegetables, the revised bean dip has less than half the calories and less saturated fat.

The southwest layered bean dip made with pinto beans and cheese can be modified (just a little) to provide good nutritional benefits and rave reviews from your guest.

The southwest 7-layer bean dip takes less than twenty minutes to prepare. You can make this dish ahead of time and refrigerate. This classic party favorite is made with low fat sour cream, plenty of fiber rich black, fat frees refried pinto beans and vegetables and its still delicious.

Ingredients:

*1 16 ounce can fat free refried beans, preferably "spicy"

*1 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed

*4 scallions

*1/2 cup prepared salsa

*1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

*1/2 teaspoon chili powder

*1/2 cup pickled jalapeno slices, chopped

*1 cup shredded Monterey Jack or Cheddar cheese

*1/2 cup reduced fat sour cream

*1-1/2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

*1 medium tomato, chopped

*1 medium avocado, chopped

*1/4 cup canned sliced black olives

Instructions:

1) Combine refried beans, black beans, scallions, salsa, cumin chili powder and jalapenos in a medium bowl. Transfer to a shallow 2-quart microwave safe dish, sprinkle with cheese.

2) Microwave on High until the cheese is melted and the beans are hot. 3-5 minutes

3) Spread sour cream evenly over the hot bean mixture, then scatter with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado and olives

Recipe makes 12 serving
*146 calories per serving
*7g fat 3 g sat 3 g mono
*12 mg. cholesterol 5 g carbohydrate
*Fiber 20% Daily value, Vitamin A & C 15%

Making healthy snacks for your family is fun. Most snacks are easy to make. Simply making a change in ingredients can transform a bad calorie into a good one.