Consumer Reports finds best low-calorie party snacks

Testers look for flavorful, cost-effective appetizers

SAN ANTONIO – Before heading to the store to find ingredients to make Super Bowl party appetizers, have you considered planning to visit the frozen aisle for low-calorie snacks? Consumer Reports found hors d’oeuvres that are low in calories and have plenty of flavor.

Experts nibbled their way through 72 heat-and-eat appetizers to find the best for your next soiree.

“Our top eight picks were about 50 calories or less, so guests can eat about 10 and still stick to their diets,” said Ellen Klosz, with Consumer Reports.

Some of the best appetizers testers found include Trader Joe’s chicken gyoza pot stickers, filled with chicken, cabbage, garlic and ginger, and are just 29 calories apiece.

Testers found two flaky treats from Saffron Road: saag paneer and vegetable samosas. They got high marks for their crispy phyllo outsides and their tasty veggie insides. Both treats have about 45 calories each.

And if you’re looking for a bargain, Seapak’s butterfly shrimp are just 18 cents each.

A few appetizers from Whole Foods also made the menu: vegetable pot stickers and spinach and cheese spanakopita. And of course, you can’t go wrong with the old fashioned vegetable tray. 


About the Author:

Marilyn Moritz is an award-winning journalist dedicated to digging up information that can make people’s lives a little bit better. As KSAT’S 12 On Your Side Consumer reporter, she focuses on exposing scams and dangerous products and helping people save money.