Party food: best and worst for your diet revealed!

Party food is one of the best things about this time of year, but what about the calories? We put the most popular canapés to the test!

Asda Eat Hot or Cold Chinese Chicken Skewers

Party food is one of the best things about this time of year, but what about the calories? We put the most popular canapés to the test!

With party season in full swing and the canapés and fizz flowing, sticking to your diet can be tricky. Party food is one of the best things about this time of year, and with more and more tasty offerings available in the supermarket, we're spoilt for choice! But what about those pesky calories? Wouldn't it be nice to avoid ruining our diets and still get our party food fix?

To make it easier we've rounded-up and rated 20 of the most popular savoury party foods, so you know which ones to fill your plate with and which ones to avoid.

To keep our findings fair we've listed the nutritional information per canapé. How well did your favourite rate? Did the results shock you? Let us know in our comments section below!

Asda Eat Hot or Cold Chinese Chicken Skewers

Rating for calorie-counters:  1/10

Cal: 139kcal

Fat: 1.7g

Sat fat:  0.5g

Sugar: 7.2g

Salt:  1.4g

Price: £2.38 for 8

While these do have the convenience factor of not having to necessarily heat them up, these chicken skewers are the least healthy option in terms of calories.

Tesco Frozen Mozzarella Sticks & Cream Cheese Bites

Tesco Frozen Mozzarella Sticks & Cream Cheese Bites

Rating for calorie-counters: 1/10

Cal: 115kcal

Fat: 7g

Sat fat: 3g

Sugar: 2g

Salt: 0.3g

Price: £2 for 12

With a double dose of cheese it's no wonder that these aren't the healthiest party canapé. These are high in calories, fat and saturated fat, so definitely not ones to choose if you're on a diet.

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mini Salmon Wellingtons

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mini Salmon Wellingtons

Rating for calorie-counters: 2/10

Cal: 92kcal

Fat: 6.5g

Sat fat: 3.7g

Sugar: 0.6g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £4 for 12

An interesting twist on the classic beef wellington, however what these canapés offer in sophistication they lack in nutritional value. We recommend limiting these to just one per party, if not leaving them on the supermarket shelf.

Sainsbury’s Duck Spring Rolls

Sainsbury’s Duck Spring Rolls

Rating for calorie-counters: 2/10

Cal: 81kcal

Fat: 4.6g

Sat fat: 0.6g

Sugar: 1.7g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £2.25 for 10

Delicious and great value for money, these duck rolls from Sainsbury's are ideal if you are throwing a party on a budget. Not so great if you're on a diet though, with such a high level of calories and fat content.

Tesco Mini Garlic Kiev

Tesco Mini Garlic Kiev

Rating for calorie-counters: 2.5/10

Cal: 75kcal

Fat: 4.1g

Sat fat: 0.9g

Sugar: 0.3g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £3 for 10

Chicken kievs are a family staple and these mini versions from Tesco make for the perfect party snack. There is a huge amount of fat in them though, so they are not the ones to stockpile.

Tesco Finest Frozen Pork Cocktail Sausages in Bacon

Tesco Finest Frozen Pork Cocktail Sausages in Bacon

Rating for calorie-counters: 3/10

Cal: 70kcal

Fat: 5.6g

Sat fat: 2.0g

Sugar: 0.2g

Salt: 0.4g

Price: £3.50 for 10

Pigs in blankets are a family favourite at any time of the year, but in particular around Christmas. These frozen pork cocktail sausages in bacon are high in calories and fat though. We would limit ourselves to just one per party.  

Iceland Party Salmon and Chicken Fillet Parcels

Iceland Party Salmon and Chicken Fillet Parcels

Rating for calorie-counters: 3.5/10

Cal: 65kcal for salmon / 54kcal for chicken  

Fat: 3.8g for salmon / 2.6g for chicken

Sat fat: 1.8g for salmon / 1.5g for chicken

Sugar:  0.5g for salmon / 0.6g for chicken

Salt: 0.1g for salmon / 0.1g for chicken

Price: £2 for 12

Salmon with a dill sauce and chicken with a garlic mushroom sauce parcels are party pleasers. Although the salmon options are ones to avoid if you're counting your calories this December.

Tesco Finest Chicken Pyramids with Satay Dip

Tesco Finest Chicken Pyramids with Satay Dip

Rating for calorie-counters: 3.5/10

Cal: 65kcal

Fat: 3g

Sat fat: 1g

Sugar: 1g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £4 for 10

Without a doubt these are one of the tastiest canapés in our list, but if you're on a diet they're not the best option. Marinated in coconut curry, these are definitely not ones to fill your trolley with.

Heston Mini Fish Pie

Heston Mini Fish Pie

Rating for calorie-counters: 4/10

Cal: 64kcal

Fat: 3.5g

Sat fat: 1.6g

Sugar: 0.8g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £6.99 for 12 at Waitrose

With salmon, smoked haddock and pea shoots, these are one of the most expensive party canapés in our round up and if you want to impress your guests then they are the perfect option. However, they're not the healthiest and are not suitable for kids with the added vermouth.

Waitrose Indian Snacks

Waitrose Indian Snacks

Rating for calorie-counters: 5/10

Cal: 63kcal

Fat: 3.2g

Sat fat: 0.3g

Sugar: 1.1g

Salt: 0.05g

Price: £3.99 for 12

With the choice of vegetable samosas, onion bhajis and spinach and dhal pakoras, this Indian snack selection is a crowd pleaser. It is also good value for money and not the worst party food option in terms of calories.

Waitrose Mini Mozzarella & Tomato Pizzas

Waitrose Mini Mozzarella & Tomato Pizzas

Rating for calorie-counters: 5/10

Cal: 61kcal

Fat: 2.3g

Sat fat: 1.2g

Sugar: 0.7g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £2.99 for 12

A favourite with the whole family, these mini pizzas are a party must-have. Why not try chopping up some vegetables to add on top to boost the nutritional value too?

Sainsbury’s Camembert & Cranberry Parcels

Sainsbury’s Camembert & Cranberry Parcels

Rating for calorie-counters: 6/10

Cal: 55kcal

Fat: 3.4g

Sat fat: 1.4g

Sugar: 0.6g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £3 for 10

Camembert is usually associated with unhealthy foods, but these mini parcels sit on the healthier side of our round up. Plus, they're a safe option as we have yet to meet anyone who doesn't like the cranberry and camembert combination.

Asda Jalapeno Stuffed Peppers

Asda Jalapeno Stuffed Peppers

Rating for calorie-counters: 6/10

Cal: 54kcal

Fat: 3.3g

Sat fat: 1.5g

Sugar: 0.7g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £2.38 for 8

One of the healthiest vegetarian options in our round-up, Asda's Jalapeno Stuffed Peppers are a great party option and score well on the calorie front.

Iceland Chippy Style Chicken Strips

Iceland Chippy Style Chicken Strips

Rating for calorie-counters: 7/10

Cal: 51kcal

Fat: 3.3g

Sat fat: 1,3g

Sugar: 0.2g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £3 for 18

These will go down a treat with the kids and they're very light on the purse. We intend to buy these in bulk for the party season.

Sainsbury’s Thai Vegetable Moneybags

Sainsbury’s Thai Vegetable Moneybags

Rating for calorie-counters: 7/10

Cal: 50kcal

Fat: 3g

Sat fat: 1.4g

Sugar: 0.5g

Salt: 0.3g

Price: £3 for 10

Parcels of Thai red curry-style vegetables make for the perfect party snack and are low in saturated fat, sugar and salt, so they're perfect if you are trying to stick to your diet throughout the festive season.

Iceland Party Crispy Crouton Prawns

Iceland Party Crispy Crouton Prawns

Rating for calorie-counters: 7/10

Cal: 50kcal

Fat: 3.3g

Sat fat: 1.5g

Sugar: 0.3g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £2 for 12

Small, bite-size prawn pieces are the perfect party food in our opinion. Easy to eat whilst stood up at your party, low in calories and incredibly tasty, not to mention great value for money - what more could you ask for?

Asda Mini Hot Dogs

Asda Mini Hot Dogs

Rating for calorie-counters: 8/10

Cal: 49kcal

Fat: 3.3g

Sat fat: 1.5g

Sugar: 0.3g

Salt: 0.2g

Price: £2.38 for 12

These are a clear winner with the kids and fortunately, they are low in fat, sugar and salt, so they won't ruin your diet either.

Waitrose Chicken Chilli Blinis

Waitrose Chicken Chilli Blinis

Rating for calorie-counters: 8/10

Cal: 44kcal

Fat: 2g

Sat fat: 0.5g

Sugar: 0.7g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £5.99 for 12

A play on the classic blini, these chicken with sweet chilli sauce canapés have the surprise factor and they fair pretty well on the nutritional front as well - although, they're not so friendly on your purse.

Waitrose Beef Yorkshire Puddings

Waitrose Beef Yorkshire Puddings

Rating for calorie-counters: 9/10

Cal: 35kcal

Fat: 1.3g

Sat fat: 0.3g

Sugar: 0.9g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £5.99 for 12

Again, these aren't the cheapest, but they are incredibly tasty and score highly if you're watching what you eat. Plus these mini Yorkshire puddings filled with beef, horseradish and crème fraiche have the wow factor to impress your guests.

Tesco Frozen Filo Prawns

Tesco Frozen Filo Prawns

Rating for calorie-counters: 10/10

Cal: 30kcal

Fat: 1.3g

Sat fat: 0.6g

Sugar: 0.2g

Salt: 0.1g

Price: £1 for 12

Prawns wrapped in feather light filo pastry make for the least calorific party canapés. Add a low fat sweet chilli sauce and dig in.

Where to next?

Jessica Dady
Food Editor

Jessica Dady is Food Editor at GoodtoKnow and has over 11 years of experience as a digital editor, specialising in all things food, recipes, and SEO. From the must-buy seasonal food hampers and advent calendars for Christmas to the family-friendly air fryers that’ll make dinner time a breeze, Jessica loves trying and testing various food products to find the best of the best for the busy parents among us. Over the years of working with GoodtoKnow, Jessica has had the privilege of working alongside Future’s Test Kitchen to create exclusive videos - as well as writing, testing, and shooting her own recipes. When she’s not embracing the great outdoors with her family at the weekends, Jessica enjoys baking up a storm in the kitchen with her favourite bakes being chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, and a tray of gooey chocolate brownies