The Wedding Nutritionist

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Bridal Shower Food And Drink Ideas

A bridal shower is another great way to celebrate the fact that you’re getting married. It may have been a while since your engagement party or you may have guests from out of town who weren’t able to attend previous celebrations. So bringing together your nearest and dearest for a bridal shower is the perfect excuse to celebrate before your big day. If you haven’t been to one before, think of it as a baby shower but celebrating the bride-to-be!

One thing most guests remember from any event is the food and drink. Putting a little thought into what you’re going to serve can ensure that you leave your guests with fond memories of the event. Start to think about if you will have a bridal shower theme and what time of day will you be hosting your guests. Most likely you’ll want a selection of bite size, finger food that people can enjoy. Or perhaps you’d prefer an afternoon tea style event.

Bridal Shower Food And Drink Ideas

Old Fashioned Lemonade

Makes 7 servings

Ingredients

  • 1-1/3 cups sugar

  • 5 cups water, divided

  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

  • 1-3/4 cups lemon juice (about 10 large lemons)

Instructions

  1. Combine the sugar, 1 cup of water and lemon zest in a large saucepan. Stir over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved (about four minutes).

  2. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and remaining water.

  3. Refrigerate until cold and serve over ice.

Peach Bellinis

Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 3 medium peaches, halved

  • 1 tablespoon honey

  • 1 can (11.3 ounces) peach nectar, chilled

  • 2 bottles (750 ml each) champagne or sparkling grape juice, chilled

Instructions

  1. Place peach halves cut side up on a baking sheet lined with foil. Drizzle with honey.

  2. Fold foil over peaches and seal.

  3. Bake at 375° for 24-30 minutes until tender. 

  4. Once completely cool, remove and discard the peels.

  5. Place the peaches in a food processor and process until smooth. Transfer the puree to a pitcher.

  6. Add in the nectar and 1 of the bottles of champagne. Stir.

  7. Pour into 12 glasses of your choice and top with the second bottle of champagne.

  8. Serve immediately.

Champagne Party Punch

Make 18 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup water

  • 2 cups unsweetened apple juice

  • 2 cups unsweetened pineapple juice

  • 1/2 cup lemon juice

  • 1/3 cup thawed orange juice concentrate

  • 1/4 cup lime juice

  • 2 cups ice cubes

  • 1 quart ginger ale, chilled

  • 1 bottle (750 ml) champagne, chilled

Instructions

  1. Combine the water with the sugar in a large pitcher and stir until sugar dissolves.

  2. Add in the apple, pineapple, lemon, lime juice and orange juice concentrate.

  3. Pop it into the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

  4. When it’s time to serve, pour into a punch bowl and add the ice cubes. Slowly add ginger ale and champagne.

Sangria

Makes 10 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 bottle (750 milliliters) merlot

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup orange liqueur

  • 1/2 to 1 cup brandy

  • 3 cups cold lemon-lime soda

  • 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

  • 1 medium orange, sliced

  • 1 medium lemon, sliced

  • 1 medium peach, sliced

  • Ice cubes

Instructions

  1. Add merlot, sugar, orange liqueur and brandy to a pitcher. Stir until sugar dissolves.

  2. Stir in soda and fresh fruit.

  3. Serve over ice.

The following recipes are written to serve one person for a snack or a light meal each, so adjust accordingly. Think about how many options you will have on the day and how many people you will be catering for.

Cucumber Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Bites

428 calories

Ingredients

  • 1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories

  • 2 oz Goat Cheese - 206 calories

  • 2 oz Prosciutto - 120 calories

  • 1 cup Blueberries, fresh - 70 calories

Instructions

  1. Slice cucumbers into coin shapes. Top with cheese, prosciutto, and berries.

  2. If you’d prefer 1/2 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup of strawberries, that’s fine!

  3. No prosciutto? Use additional cheese. No dairy? Use a dairy-free brand or additional prosciutto.

Light Poke Bowls

338 calories

Ingredients

  • ¼ Avocado, small - 58.25 calories

  • 4 oz Smoked salmon - 133 calories

  • ¼ cup Edamame, shelled - 65 calories

  • 1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories

  • 1 cup Veggie noodles/rice, cauliflower “rice”, raw - 38 calories

  • 2 Tbsp Soy sauce - 0 calories

  • 2 tsp Sesame seeds - 12 calories

Instructions

  1. Chop cucumber into coin shapes. Dice avocado. 

  2. Boil edamame if eating from frozen. 

  3. Spray a pan with an olive oil spray.

  4. Stir-fry cauliflower rice for ~7 minutes, until you see some browning.

  5. Once cauliflower rice has cooled, combine all ingredients.

Bowtie Meatball Bites

If you have gluten-free guests, just swap for gluten-free pasta.

283 calories

Ingredients

  • ½ cup Pasta, cooked - 100 calories

  • ½ cup Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 2.5 calories

  • 3 oz Mini meatballs, turkey - 180 calories

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta (bowtie shapes preferably!) as instructed on package.

  2. Microwave meatballs from frozen.

  3. Spear with toothpicks as shown in picture.

Low Carb Tea Sandwiches

292 calories

Ingredients

  • 1 Cucumber, medium - 42 calories

  • 7½ Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped - 250 calories

  • 2 Tbsp Dill - 0 calories

  • 2 Tbsp Chives - 0 calories

  • 1 Salt, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

  1. Note: 7 1/2 Tbsp cream cheese = 1/2 cup

  2. Cut herbs finely.

  3. Slice cucumber.

  4. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, dill, salt, and pepper. Stir until herbs are mixed in.

  5. Spread mixture evenly on cucumber.

Zucchini Pizza Bites

208 calories

Ingredients

  • 1 Zucchini, medium - 33 calories

  • ¼ cup Tomatoes, canned, crushed - 12.5 calories

  • ⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 112 calories

  • 2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) - 50 calories

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. 

  2. Slice zucchini into coin shapes.  

  3. Spray a pan with an oil spray.

  4. Stir fry zucchini for ~2 minutes.

  5. Remove from heat & add sauce and cheeses.

  6. Bake zucchini pizza bites for 4 minutes (alternatively you can use a toaster oven).

American Flag Grahams with Yogurt

229 calories

Ingredients

  • 2 Graham crackers - 118 calories

  • ¼ cup Yogurt, flavored (<15 gm sugar/ serving), 2% Greek - 50 calories

  • ¼ cup Pomegranate seeds - 43.5 calories

  • ¼ cup Blueberries, fresh - 17.5 calories

Instructions

  1. Spread yogurt evenly over graham crackers.

  2. Top with blueberries and pomegranate seeds in American flag pattern.

  3. No dairy? Use a dairy-free yogurt

  4. The memories of being a kid make these the perfect comfort food! Plus it’s almost like having an ice cream without the calories.

Lightened Up Spinach & Artichoke Dip

511 calories, so much healthier than a classic layer dip!

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Frozen spinach - 38 calories

  • 3 slice Artichokes, canned (pieces) - 30 calories

  • 6 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped - 200 calories

  • ⅓ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 112 calories

  • ⅓ cup Cheese, Parmesan, grated (cups) - 115 calories

  • 1 Salt, dash - 0 calories

  • 1 cup Celery stalks, chopped in half - 16 calories

Instructions:

  1. Cut artichokes into small pieces.

  2. Spray pan with an oil spray and stir-fry spinach on medium heat.

  3. Once cooked through, drain any excess liquid with a sieve.

  4. Add in rest of ingredients (aside from celery), stir frequently for another 5-6 minutes, or until your desired temperature.

  5. Serve with celery sticks for dipping.

Jalapeño Poppers

362 calories

Ingredients:

  • 2 Tbsp Cream cheese, whipped (Tbsp) - 66 calories

  • ¼ cup Cheese, shredded, cheddar - 114 calories

  • ¼ cup Cheese, shredded, mozzarella - 84 calories

  • 2 Uncured bacon, slice - 88 calories

  • 2 Jalapeno peppers (whole) - 10 calories

Instructions:

  1. This recipe works best when making 2-3 servings

  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  3. In a small bowl, stir/mash together the cream cheese and shredded cheeses (microwave the cream cheese for a few seconds first).

  4. Fill the jalapeno halves with mixture and wrap each with ½ strip bacon. Place onto baking sheet.

  5. Bake for 15-20 minutes

Cucumber Goat Cheese & Prosciutto Bites

428 calories

Ingredients:

  • 1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories

  • 2 oz Cheese, goat - 206 calories

  • 2 oz Prosciutto - 120 calories

  • 1 cup Blueberries, fresh - 70 calories

Instructions:

  1. Slice cucumbers into coin shapes. Top with cheese, prosciutto, and berries.

  2. If you’d prefer 1/2 cup of blueberries and 1/2 cup of strawberries, that’s fine!

  3. No prosciutto? Use additional cheese. No dairy? Use a dairy-free brand or additional prosciutto.

Apple “Samoas”

269 calories

Ingredients:

  • 1 Apple, small - 77 calories

  • ⅔ Tbsp Chocolate chips - 46.9 calories

  • 1 Tbsp Coconut chips - 45 calories

  • 1 oz Caramel - 100 calories

Instructions:

  1. Slice apples as shown in picture. Cut out core of slices.

  2. Melt caramel in microwave for ~60 seconds.

  3. Drizzle caramel on top of apple slices.

  4. Top with chocolate chips and coconut flakes.

  5. Note: 2/3 Tbsp = 2 tsp (for chocolate chips)

  6. Bonus tip: make 2 “cookies” & eat the other apple slices as a side dish, to make the 2 “cookies” a real part food with a good amount of toppings!

Strawberry Sundae Bites

171 calories

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Strawberries, fresh - 50 calories

  • 4 Tbsp Regular whipped cream - 60 calories

  • 2 tsp Sprinkles - 40 calories

  • 0.3 Tbsp Chocolate chips - 21 calories

Instructions:

  1. Cut stem off strawberries, slice each lengthwise.

  2. Top with whipped cream, sprinkles, and chocolate chips.