Anonymous
12/26/2025 18:09
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
My DH developed a shrimp allergy at 50. But it turns out to be related to his dust mite allergy. Shrimp/shellfish carry the same protein.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 17:36
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
I make a lot of different meatballs, and literally none of the recipes are high in sugar. Some are what we make when diabetic friends come for dinner. And many are low-fat. If you want healthy meatball recipes, they exist.
That grape jelly meatball recipe that is popular has sugar.
What about either stuffed mushroom caps or deviled eggs? Little summer rolls with chicken veggies and peanut sauce to dip? Ceviche? Melon with smoked salmon or prosciutto? Soy curl satay? Lettuce wraps with ground chicken and vegetables?
Gross. No one likes those anyhow.
Yeah, you’re wrong on that. But if this person is vegetarian or pescatarian they won’t want those.
Go to the local Greek or Middle Eastern place and get stuffed grape leaves.
I’m not the person who said they’re gross as I know people like them, but I am the person who said they have lots of healthy meatball recipes — and I do, and the grape jelly ones aren’t among them.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 15:33
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
I make a lot of different meatballs, and literally none of the recipes are high in sugar. Some are what we make when diabetic friends come for dinner. And many are low-fat. If you want healthy meatball recipes, they exist.
That grape jelly meatball recipe that is popular has sugar.
What about either stuffed mushroom caps or deviled eggs? Little summer rolls with chicken veggies and peanut sauce to dip? Ceviche? Melon with smoked salmon or prosciutto? Soy curl satay? Lettuce wraps with ground chicken and vegetables?
Gross. No one likes those anyhow.
Yeah, you’re wrong on that. But if this person is vegetarian or pescatarian they won’t want those.
Go to the local Greek or Middle Eastern place and get stuffed grape leaves.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 15:22
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Question's in the subject line. Backstory:
Dieting family member who's pretty low carb and relatively healthy who also loved shrimp cocktail recently got diagnosed with a shrimp allergy. (Did you know that could happen at age 60 after a lifetime of reading shrimp?!)
Any ideas for a good appetizer that could help fill the hole for them when they visit on New Year's Eve? They don't eat cheese or any dairy, really. Mainly just fish and veggies
The main meal is salmon but we usually do a pretty extensive array of appetizers over the course of a long afternoon visit. We'll have a veggie tray and dips as well as meatballs for another group who loves those. I'm trying to think of something fun and festive and relatively easy to take the place of our usual shrimp.
If they is the one person, have others also eaten shrimp in the past? If so that adult can just skip the shrimp, which is incredibly easy to present and serve. No shellfish, no cheese, no dairy, low carbs. Cubed tofu roasted in the oven Stick a toothpick in the cubes. https://twokooksinthekitchen.com/tofu-with-peanut-sauce/ Press it, cube it, roll in spices, melted peanut butter, canola oil. Bake.
Or more work and messier to eat. Crockpot-chicken breast, corn, salsa, green onion, diced red pepper. Load scoops and lettuce wraps. Mini tacos and fixings on the side?
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:33
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
I make a lot of different meatballs, and literally none of the recipes are high in sugar. Some are what we make when diabetic friends come for dinner. And many are low-fat. If you want healthy meatball recipes, they exist.
That grape jelly meatball recipe that is popular has sugar.
What about either stuffed mushroom caps or deviled eggs? Little summer rolls with chicken veggies and peanut sauce to dip? Ceviche? Melon with smoked salmon or prosciutto? Soy curl satay? Lettuce wraps with ground chicken and vegetables?
Gross. No one likes those anyhow.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:33
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
Why do your meatballs have sugar??!!
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:32
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I developed a shrimp allergy at age 40.
Smoked salmon? Hummus?
!!!
I just developed a macadamia nut allergy at 50. It's okay. I rarely have them.
Now, a shrimp allergy would break my heart
Shrimp are terrible for you anyhow, not missing out.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:32
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
My MIL developed a dairy allergy at 70. It made me stop dieting and enjoy all the ice cream, etc I can before something like that happens to me.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:30
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
I make a lot of different meatballs, and literally none of the recipes are high in sugar. Some are what we make when diabetic friends come for dinner. And many are low-fat. If you want healthy meatball recipes, they exist.
That grape jelly meatball recipe that is popular has sugar.
What about either stuffed mushroom caps or deviled eggs? Little summer rolls with chicken veggies and peanut sauce to dip? Ceviche? Melon with smoked salmon or prosciutto? Soy curl satay? Lettuce wraps with ground chicken and vegetables?
Anonymous
12/26/2025 14:18
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Why can't they eat veggies and hummus and the meatballs?
They likely won't eat meatballs for health reasons (too much sugar and fat). They can eat veggies and dips, it's just that they're so thoughtful of getting everyone's food preferences right when they host that I want to do something special. Shrimp cocktail was always our big thing that they loved to eat when we host NYE (like they love it so much it's become a family joke) so I want to have a relatively nice alternative.
I make a lot of different meatballs, and literally none of the recipes are high in sugar. Some are what we make when diabetic friends come for dinner. And many are low-fat. If you want healthy meatball recipes, they exist.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 11:42
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Deviled eggs, use some yogurt some mayo to make it lighter.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 11:39
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous
12/26/2025 11:37
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately I developed a shrimp allergy at age 40.
Smoked salmon? Hummus?
!!!
I just developed a macadamia nut allergy at 50. It's okay. I rarely have them.
Now, a shrimp allergy would break my heart
Anonymous
12/26/2025 11:37
Subject: Re:No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
Tofu and peanut sauce
https://twokooksinthekitchen.com/tofu-with-peanut-sauce/#wprm-recipe-container-14501
If you don’t wanna make the peanut sauce, you can buy it at Trader Joe’s.
https://twokooksinthekitchen.com/tofu-with-peanut-sauce/#wprm-recipe-container-14501
If you don’t wanna make the peanut sauce, you can buy it at Trader Joe’s.
Anonymous
12/26/2025 11:36
Subject: No shrimp. Other easy relatively healthy protein appetizers?
I’ve posted these before.
Chicken Rolled in Curry and Peanuts
Adapted from the Silver Palate Good Times cookbook:
8 boneless chicken breasts, poached, cooled and cut unto 1-inch cubes
4 cups dry roasted peanuts, chopped
Blend Sauce in food processor:
3 tablespoons mango chutney
1 and ½ cups of Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon sherry or white vinegar
2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
Assembly:
Dip a chicken piece in the sauce, then roll in chopped peanuts. Put on tray, and chill half hour before serving. Serve with toothpicks.
Chicken Rolled in Curry and Peanuts
Adapted from the Silver Palate Good Times cookbook:
8 boneless chicken breasts, poached, cooled and cut unto 1-inch cubes
4 cups dry roasted peanuts, chopped
Blend Sauce in food processor:
3 tablespoons mango chutney
1 and ½ cups of Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons dry sherry
1 tablespoon sherry or white vinegar
2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
Assembly:
Dip a chicken piece in the sauce, then roll in chopped peanuts. Put on tray, and chill half hour before serving. Serve with toothpicks.