Why aren’t plentiful apps/heavy hors d'oeuvres ‘filling’?

[Anonymous]

I am serving ham, turkey and sides today, so I don’t have a dog in this fight. I’ve actually never served an apps/hors d’oeuvres meal, so truly, I’m not being defensive, but am very curious.

But always with the apps/heavy hors d’oeuvres threads, people are like, “it’s not substantial and filling enough, blah blah blah.”

My question: you can only fit so many bites of anything into your mouth and stomach, correct? So what does it matter if those bites are Beef Wellington and sides, or two small plates full of spanakopita, cocktail meatballs, Hawaiian roll ham sandwiches, artichoke dip, etc.?

I recently went to a White Elephant party with heavy apps, and that was my dinner. There was a great variety and I could have eaten more, but I was full after two rounds. There were also desserts. I could have had way more, there was plenty of food. There was so much that I couldn’t even try every dish.

So I don’t understand the “it’s not filling” or “it’s not a meal” argument. How is it not a meal if there are a variety of foods—vegetables, meats, cheeses, hot and cold dishes—and there’s so much you can have multiple plates? Honestly asking, because I don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

I can definitely fill up on heavy apps. The people that say they need a meal—I don’t get it. It can truly be the same amount of food (even more calories sometimes if you’re having a lot of cheese/dough wrapped bites).

It’s fine!

[Anonymous]

I find that there are plenty of calories at those things, but the distribution of calories is much higher in carbs and fats than the meals I prefer that have more protein and veggies. That being said, I eat what I’m offered and don’t complain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can definitely fill up on heavy apps. The people that say they need a meal—I don’t get it. It can truly be the same amount of food (even more calories sometimes if you’re having a lot of cheese/dough wrapped bites).

It’s fine!

This, it's the lack of protein and fiber, compared to a main and salad. A bunch of puff pastry might make me full (or greasy-sick) but not satisfied.

I don't serve that as a meal. If I want to serve them, I do a between meal party, like 2 to 5 pm.

[Anonymous]

If they're truly plentiful that's one thing, but I find at most events they are either passed (hard to get a lot / catch a waiter) or devoured by the first 5 people to reach the table. I went to a party last week where the majority of us didn't get any at all.

[Anonymous]

People just don't eat as much when it is apps. It's psychologically different. When served turkey, ham, sides, etc, you make a plate full of that. A dinner plate full, and it is a holiday so the taboo against piling your plate high is absent. Appetizers are culturally different, you don't mound a plate high with them. In fact you don't eat many of them.

[Anonymous]

We are an extraordinary obese nation.

Hence people complaining that any portion smaller than an entree from Cheesecake Factory is not filling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can definitely fill up on heavy apps. The people that say they need a meal—I don’t get it. It can truly be the same amount of food (even more calories sometimes if you’re having a lot of cheese/dough wrapped bites).

It’s fine!

This, it's the lack of protein and fiber, compared to a main and salad. A bunch of puff pastry might make me full (or greasy-sick) but not satisfied.

I don't serve that as a meal. If I want to serve them, I do a between meal party, like 2 to 5 pm.

There’s usually a vegetable tray, or at the very least lots of vegetables alongside crackers for the dips. I’ve never been to an app party that didn’t have lots of vegetables. Just because they are raw versus in a salad or roasted, like I don’t get it: there are vegetables. There are proteins.

[Anonymous]

From the perspective of attending too, sometimes people don't recognize what they eat when scarfing appetizers standing up.

I have to remind myself to make a plate, filled with fresh vegetables and fruit.

Otherwise I can scarf a lot of individual pieces of cheese, appetizers, etc for more calories than a dinner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are an extraordinary obese nation.

Hence people complaining that any portion smaller than an entree from Cheesecake Factory is not filling.

A chicken breast and green beans is both more filling and healthier than a bunch of mini quiche and Lil Smokies wrapped in dough.

[Anonymous]

"Filling" is very common. Common people use it.
Yeah, we love Cheesecake Factory because it really fills you up.
I ate a whole quiche it was pretty filling.

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Heavy apps are not filling if you can't get at them, go crazy trying to spot the server, don't like them. Or just need a sit down trough.

[Anonymous]

They’re not filling because it’s not real food like you’d have for dinner. Cheese fruit and crackers are a poor meal.

[Anonymous]

It is. Well, it can be. Some people have a mental block and think if they eat bite-sized things on a plate they're holding with one hand while standing, they haven't had a meal. They need to sit at a table and use a fork and knife to feel they've had a meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find that there are plenty of calories at those things, but the distribution of calories is much higher in carbs and fats than the meals I prefer that have more protein and veggies. That being said, I eat what I’m offered and don’t complain.

+1

For this reason it's not a satisfying meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re not filling because it’s not real food like you’d have for dinner. Cheese fruit and crackers are a poor meal.

+1