7 Tips for Easy Holiday Entertaining

Plus: Great healthy cocktails and appetizer recipes.

More Entertaining Ideas
Easy Entertaining: 15-Minute Appetizers and Drinks
Quick and Healthy Appetizer Recipes and Menus
See It, Make It: Cocktails & Mocktails

A holiday party. Were ever three nicer or more frightening words written! Who doesn’t love to get an invitation? But who doesn’t pause at the thought of throwing one? Oh, the prep, the cleanup, not to mention the inevitable bloat from too many salted nuts, and Aunt Matilda’s obscure grievances with Woodrow Wilson.

It needn’t be so. Here are seven EatingWell tips to make your party a success. (We make no promises about Aunt Matilda.)

Tip 1: Keep your guests awake. »