How to Host a Healthy Holiday Open House

A holiday open house can be a fantastic way to connect with family and friends without all the fuss of a formal dinner or party. An open house is typically a casual weekend afternoon or early evening affair. Set aside around four hours for people to come and go, perhaps to pop in for a visit in between shopping trips. Make your open house menu healthy by serving finger foods and small plates, choosing great ingredients, and pairing your food offerings with fresh, light beverages.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Organizing Your Gathering

1
Pick a four hour time window. The beauty of an open house is that it’s a great way to entertain without having to stress about all the details that come with a cocktail party or formal dinner. Just pick a block of time on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon or evening, like from 2 to 6 p.m. or from 4 to 8. When you invite your guests, you’ll note that it’s an open house, so they can come and go as they please with no expectation to stay the entire time.^{[1]XResearch source}
- Open houses are a great choice if you’re not thrilled at the prospect of having dozens of people crammed into your home all at once!
- The casual schedule is also perfect for families with kids. They don’t require parents to book a sitter, they’re typically a kid-friendly form of entertainment, and families can get back home before it gets too late.
2
Send out invitations. When you’ve chosen a date and time, send out paper invitations or use social media to invite your guests. Make sure to note on the invitation what the party is by including something like “Join us for a holiday open house.”^{[2]XResearch source}
- If you’re not sure that your guests will know right away what you mean by “open house,” you can include a line such as “Pop in as you please!” to let them know the plan.
3
Create the holiday mood. No need to go overboard on the holiday decor, but put a little effort into whatever decorations and music are appropriate for your tastes.^{[3]XResearch source}
- If you have a fireplace, light a fire.
- Decorate a tree and make sure it's lit during your party if you celebrate Christmas. Think about hanging garlands or lights around staircase railings, door archways, the fireplace mantle, and other areas.
- Go with seasonal candles, like apples and cinnamon, to set the holiday mood. Simmering potpourri or a warm apple cider will also add a festive fragrance.
- Choose seasonal music, or play holiday movies on the TV. Set movies on low volume or mute for a little background ambience.
- Consider getting a few poinsettias to put around the house. Or, get a couple bouquets of any flowers to place in vases around the house. Flowers are a quick and effective way to dress your home up for any occasion.
4
Include kid-friendly activities. You could hire a neighborhood teen to come to the party and play with the kids so the adults can mingle. Since holiday open houses are typically understood as kid-friendly, consider setting up a kid’s activity area in a side corner. Offer toys, games, or some quick and easy activity to keep them busy.^{[4]XResearch source}
- Try to set up the kid zone away from the buffet, ornaments, little porcelain villages, candles, vases, and other holiday breakables.
- Think about including a simple, low-mess holiday craft, like coloring books or origami ornaments. Stay away anything messy or that might require close supervision, like glue.
- If you don’t want kids at your open house, be sure to make a note in the invitation to avoid confusion. Consider including a line like, "A holiday gathering for grown-ups" or simply, "No children, please." You could also mention a specific age like, "Please, no guests under age 16," or if you know good babysitters then write, "We'd be happy to recommend sitters!"
Write down ingredients you’ll need for food and beverages, flowers, kids’ activity items, decorations, candles, and anything else you’ll need to buy. Make lists of all the tasks you’ll need to accomplish, from ironing linens to cleaning the bathrooms. Decide where you’ll put coats, where the buffet will be, and where drinks will be served.^{[5]XResearch source}
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Planning Your Healthy Menu

1
Start planning your menu early. Since the whole point of a holiday open house is to stay stress-free, you’ll want to give yourself some time to organize your food and beverage menus. That way, you won’t make things hectic by waiting until the last minute. Since a healthy menu is a priority, you’ll want to be able to spend some time putting together healthier options instead of going with quicker items, like chips and dip.^{[6]XResearch source}
- In addition to healthier options, plan on including small plates with grab-and-go food items. This will decrease the amount of food and lower calorie counts.
2
Choose a few low maintenance buffet items. Four or five food choices is plenty for a holiday open house. Plan on each of your guests having at least a couple of each item you’re serving so you don’t run low. The general rule for parties is that each guest will eat between a half pound and a pound of food, but at an open house, you’ll find some people will dig in while others will just pick.^{[7]XResearch source}
- Including a good bulk option with visual appeal, like a salad, is an excellent option.
- It’s a “grazing party,” so try to include buffet items that can be enjoyed at room temperature and that will stay pretty over the course of a few hours. Think salad, bruschetta, fruit and veggie plates, mini meatballs, and cocktail shrimp.
- You can always swap out or reheat warm or hot items, but do remember you’ll want to spend lots of time with your guests. Try to keep the buffet low maintenance.
3
Make a big, gorgeous salad. A salad can be a beautiful, healthy way to anchor your buffet. Keep it simple, elegant, and be sure to include salad dressing on the side so it doesn’t get soggy.
- Try a winter seasonal salad by tossing together kale, shredded red cabbage, and shredded carrots. Top it with toasted pumpkin seeds and pair it with a zesty vinegar-based dressing.^{[8]XResearch source}
- You could also do a simple arugula salad tossed with sliced red onion and a bit of grated parmesan. Top with prosciutto if you’d like, and pair with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.
4
Serve a healthy homemade hummus. Soak 3 cups of dried chickpeas at room temperature for at least 12 hours. Drain well and rinse, then transfer to a large pot filled with water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook at a boil for 5 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.^{[9]XResearch source}
- Remove from heat, ladle out a couple cups of the cooking water and set aside. Drain and rinse the cooked chickpeas with cool water.
- Transfer to a food processor or blender and add the reserved cooking water, 1 1/2 cups tahini, 3/4 cup olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, the juice of 3 lemons, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth, about 5 minutes.
- Serve with pita bread, or with sliced carrot or celery chips for gluten-free option. If you don’t feel like making your own hummus, just buy an appropriate amount for the number of your people you invited!
5
Make mini meatballs. Use 2 pounds of lean ground beef, or substitute lean ground turkey for a healthier option. Combine well with 2 cups breadcrumbs, 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley, 4 medium eggs (lightly beaten), 2 cloves minced garlic, and 1 medium chopped onion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.^{[10]XResearch source}
- Shape into 1 tablespoon-sized meatballs, using a scoop to help control portion size. Place on a shallow baking pan or sheet, put in an oven preheated to 350 degrees F, and bake for 25 minutes. Insert a toothpick into each meatball for easier serving.
- Increase or decrease recipe proportions based on the number of your guests.
6
Serve an easy tomato basil bruschetta. Slice a baguette or long loaf of bread. Place the slices in a broiler pan, and broil on high for a few minutes each side, keeping an eye on them through the oven window as they char. Rub the toasts with smashed garlic cloves and drizzle them with a bit of olive oil.^{[11]XResearch source}
- Cut 3 or 4 plum tomatoes in half. Squeeze out the seeds and juicy, then dice. Place diced tomatoes in a small serving bowl.
- Take a couple dozen basil leaves, stack them, and roll them then chop finely to chiffonade them. Combine with the diced tomatoes, then add a drizzle of olive oil and a dash of kosher or sea salt. Provide a serving spoon with the topping, and arrange the toasts on a platter around or near the bowl.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Serving Light, Delicious Beverages

1
Serve a variety of basic, low calorie non-alcoholic drinks. In addition to more festive beverages, be sure to include an assortment of easy, basic beverages. Have a pitcher of unsweetened tea handy, along with flat and sparkling water pitchers with sliced fruit or citrus twists on the side.^{[12]XResearch source}
- Hot coffee, tea, and hot cocoa are also great non-alcoholic holiday beverage options.
- Try to keep it easy for guests to serve themselves beverages so you and your spouse don’t get stuck in the kitchen mixing drinks.
2
Prepare an easy, fresh signature cocktail. If you choose to serve alcohol, encourage the use of jiggers to prevent guests from overindulging, and to keep calorie counts low. You can also premix a delicious, fresh signature drink, like a cucumber vodka spritzer.
- Slice a cucumber and add to a pitcher filled with a bottle of vodka for at least a day to infuse. Pour into a punch bowl, and 4 cups diet tonic or soda water, 2 cups of cucumber juice, 1 cup of lime juice, and, if you want to splurge a bit,1 cup of simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water, boiled together then cooled). Omit the simple syrup to keep it healthier.
- Mix ingredients well then serve in rocks glasses over ice. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
3
Serve white wine or sangria. White wine is generally preferred over red to serve for an afternoon get together. As a bonus, avoiding red wine will help keep rugs, carpeting, and upholstered furniture free from difficult stains. You can also prepare a batch of white wine sangria:^{[13]XResearch source}
- For everyone bottle of wine you use in the sangria, add 1/2 cup of brandy, 1/4 cup of orange liqueur, 4 tablespoons simple syrup, 1/2 cup of orange juice, 1 sliced orange, and 1 sliced lemon. Omit the simple syrup and brandy to keep it healthier, and add extra sliced citrus fruit as substitutions.
- Mix ingredients well in a punch bowl and serve over ice.
4
Make mulled cider. Bring 2 quarts apple cider, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 whole allspice berries, 2 whole cloves, and 1 sliced orange to a simmer on the stovetop. Alternatively, combine these ingredients in a slow cooker set to low.^{[14]XResearch source}
- Look for diet or low sugar apple cider options at the store to lower the calorie count.
- Ladle into mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick.
- Increase the recipe’s ratios to make enough for however many guests you invite.
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