Tried and Tasted: Party Food

Waitrose Perfectly Balanced Butterscotch Ripple Iced Dessert

More low fat than low calorie but the Taste Team were very high in praise. An excellent, refreshing flavour and occasional toffee chunks and sauce ensure your tongue never gets bored. You may have trouble sharing it around though.

Morrisons Reduced Fat Soured Cream & Chive Dip

From the appearance it's yet another low fat dip but it's the creamy texture and a slight citrus edge that makes it a cut above the rest. Could try to be lower in fat though.

Sainsbury's BGTY Alcohol Free Christmas Pudding

Despite being teetotal nobody considered this boring. A good mix of flavours and textures and carrying noticeably less fat.

Waitrose Perfectly Balanced Fruit Cake Slices

Very sweet and crunchy like it's saturated with sugar. Chewy fruit pieces, and moist cake, balance this a little.

Bacardi Breezer Zesty Lemon Half Sugar

Still the same amount of alcohol but there is a significant drop in calories. Doesn't taste particularly like just a healthier version but can seem "a bit chemically". Better toward the end of the bottle though...

Marks & Spencer Reduced Fat Houmous with Focaccia Breadsticks

A firm texture and better than average taste mark this out above the rest. Fairly lower in calories too. Accessorised with breadsticks which weren't quite up to the same standard.

Iceland Good Choice Mandarin Cheesecake

Quite sweet but not unpleasant. A good crunchy base to balance the texture. A good cheesecake to balance the usual festive desserts.

Tesco Healthy Living Spinach and Ricotta Piccadella

Seems to be trying to disguise its pizzeria roots by changing its name. Not as brash, or as calorific, as some pizzas. Quite a subtle flavour that may be too bland for some.

Marks & Spencer COU Pasta with Tomato & Basil Chicken

Looked quite promising but never really delivered. 'A little too sweet and damp' was the consensus. Some may wish to persevere with it, especially since it's so low in fat and calories.

Sainsbury's BGTY Roasted Tomato and Mozzarella Pizza

Started well with an appealing look but let down by a 'homemade' taste and the unusual addition of seeds. And then you realise it's not really that low in calories.

Tesco Healthy Living Reduced Fat Houmous

A pleasing flavour and less calories than standard houmous. Could be too soft and nutty tasting to convert everyone but a good low calorie option.

Sainsbury's BGTY Strawberry Trifles

The more popular of the trifles. Scores well as a healthy option but feels very soggy and artificial.

Tesco Healthy Living Tiramisu

An attractive pick-me-up for the party, if a slightly obvious and generic one. Could be a bit too fluffy for some and too much like a coffee mousse but it's a lot healthier than average.

Anchor Light Dairy Cream

A nice if slightly forgettable flavour. Very low calorie and low fat compared to standard versions. If you're looking for something to give a finishing touch to a dessert (or even a party game) you could do a lot worse.

Sainsbury's BGTY Garlic Baguette Reduced Fat

The biggest discussion caused here was over whether 'garlicky' was a word; as in "it's not very garlicky". It's quite low in calories but seems too much like bread spread with vaguely flavoured margarine.

Tesco Healthy Living Brussels Pâté

A good reduction of fat and calories that seems to come at a price: a soft, mushy texture and a weak, bland flavour.

Danone Goodies Low Fat Strawberry Trifle

Another reminder of the joys of homemade trifle. Firmer sponge than some other trifles but possibly because it has soaked up less flavour. May be too firm and needs to let itself go more.

Sainsbury's BGTY Classic Dip Selection

Dips are often difficult to approach at a party but always in demand once things get going. This foursome failed to leave much of an impression; straying toward the bland and the sloppy. Only half the calories and fat of average dips though.

Tesco Healthy Living Multipack Dips

Very few differences between this and the Sainsbury's one. Same flavours and roughly the same nutritional values. A little firmer yet a little weaker; take your pick.

Tesco Reduced Fat Cream Crackers

Often ignored at parties and taken for granted. The team may have been a bit harsh here. Maybe the thing to notice was that they didn't stand out and taste 'low fat' and that they are a good low fat alternative.

Morrisons Eat Smart Rich Fruit Christmas Pudding

A shiny, gel-like appearance and elastic properties set the scene quite well. Not a bad taste but it is very sweet and flavours seem artificial.

Waitrose Reduced Fat Quiche Lorraine

The more tempting of the quiches here and very low in fat and calories. Doesn't let anyone down on taste either but hardly a showstopper at any party.

Morrisons Eat Smart Reduced Fat Cheese & Onion Quiche

Quiche is never really the main man at parties and saying 'Reduced Fat' is not going to drive people any wilder. The taste is as you would expect though and the calories and fat are a fair bit less.

Asda Good For You! Mini Melton Pork Pies

There's always a cult following for pork pies, though they may be disappointed here. A dry texture and a bread-like taste suggest many a lonely night for this lot.

Asda Good For You! Reduced Fat Dips

The lowest calorie dips here but noticeably the least flavour. You may need to check the colour of the lumps to find out which flavour you're actually tasting.

Sainsbury's Reduced Fat Pork Cocktail Sausages

The regular party-goer looking slightly wrinkled and rubbery here. Quite good yet quite plain. Not really that low in fat and actually a few more calories than the average.

Weight Watchers Mature Cheese Low Fat

Unattractive rubbery looks, mouldy plastic flavour and strong, dry aftertaste. Doesn't try hard to make friends. Turns out to be very low in calories and fat if you do spend any time with it.

Tesco Healthy Living Low Fat Cheese

Roughly the same comments as the Weight Watchers cheese; though even less positive. Manages to be a healthy option but at the expense of its popularity.

Asda Good For You! Baked Snack Selection

Fairly unnatural appearance and taste. Flavours don't really hit the mark and should potato-based snacks ever stick to your fingers? The very low fat content grabs it one star.

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