How to Have a Guilt-Free & Delicious Rehearsal Dinner

Give a delicious, healthy gift to both your wedding party and your waistline at your wedding rehearsal dinner. Society has become more health-conscious than ever, therefore your options are limitless when it comes to choosing yummy yet satisfying dishes for your wedding rehearsal dinner guests.

Healthy Italian Rehearsal Dinners
If you’re opting for an intimate, budget-friendly wedding rehearsal dinner at home, pick up a traditional Italian cookbook full of recipes that are built on a foundation of fresh, plant-based ingredients, whole grains, fresh cheeses, fish and olive oil. Pick out meals that are easy to prepare and that will make your guests' mouths water.

If you’re searching for an Italian restaurant, make sure to pick an authentic one. If possible, forgo a chain and instead pick a family-owned establishment that serves Italian recipes from the mother country. The more authentic, the healthier because Italian dishes are made with simple, wholesome ingredients. Here are the most popular healthy Italian dishes:

• Antipasti salad (perfect for the first course)
• Chicken with sun-dried tomato, eggplant and basil
• Linguine with tuna puttanesca (a great option for pasta and fish lovers)
• Steamed mussels with fennel and tomato (an unconventional and low-carb meal)

Healthy Mexican Rehearsal Dinners
Believe it or not, you can have your margarita and your taco, too. Make your wedding rehearsal dinner festive and healthy by following these menu guidelines:

• Offer fresh vegetables for appetizers in addition to tortilla chips.
• Avoid entrees with following description(s): crispy, fried, refried beans, cheesy.
• Choose entrees that are baked, grilled and served with soft tortillas.
• Replace sour cream with salsa or a small serving of guacamole.
• Replace ground beef with chicken.
• Since Mexican food entrees are on the large side, request to have them cut in half (this may save you some cash as well as inches on your collective waistlines).
• Order fruit instead of fried Mexican desserts.
• Request fresh, pureed fruit instead of sugar in your margaritas.

Vegetarian Rehearsal Dinners
Vegetarian meals that include mostly vegetables, whole grains and beans are popular picks among health nuts. Combine the following delectable dishes for a meal that will leave your friends and family satisfied.

• Garden-fresh stir fry with seitan
• Chickpea burgers and tahini sauce
• Red onion and goat cheese pancake (perfect for wedding rehearsal breakfasts)
• Black bean croquettes with fresh salsa
• Cheese and spinach-stuffed portobello mushrooms
• Carrot and tarragon tart (a great option for brunch, lunch or dinner)
  

Go Organic and Locavore at Your Wedding Rehearsal Dinner
If you’re conscious about how your food was grown and where it comes from, then you should consider choosing a restaurant that serves meals made from organic, locally-sourced ingredients. Here are some facts about organic and local food:

• Organic farmers use natural fertilizers such as manure or compost instead of chemical weed killers.
• Organic farmers don’t use insecticides.
• Organic farmers rotate crops to manage weeds instead of using chemical herbicides.
• They give animals organic feed and a balanced diet instead of antibiotics and growth hormones.
• Food grown locally supports local commerce.
• Food that comes from your region doesn't have to be shipped or flown in from other countries, which means you can reduce your wedding's overall carbon footprint.

Healthy and delicious food is a fantastic way of giving thanks to your friends and family for supporting you during this special occasion. Have fun and chow down guilt-free. 

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