wedding shower food

Serve wedding shower food that's fresh, tasty, and nutritious, and won't keep you in the kitchen the whole time.

This shrimp and orzo salad will wow your shower guests.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Wedding season will soon be here, but before the big day, someone has to throw the shower. If that someone is you, we've got some wedding shower food ideas that will make that aspect of wedding planning, at least, less stressful and more fun. For starters, serve up a made-in-advance, chilled fresh fava bean or pea soup—it’s both elegant and efficient, as it eliminates the need to heat up a first course. Shrimp paired with orzo or couscous adds up to a great entrée that can be served at room temperature. Both the starter and the main dish are unfussy enough to withstand a slightly flexible start time, just in case there are any tardy guests (or guests of honor). Toast up some easy, cheesy bruschetta, and you’re in business. Raise a glass of fruity sangria in honor of the happy couple, and bask in the moment; you’ll be able to truly relax and enjoy the event, thanks to this menu plan from the Rodale Recipe Finder. And who knows? All the fresh, healthy ingredients could provide a burst of nutrients to help the bride make it to the big day.

Here's a menu, with variations, of healthy, easy-to-prepare wedding shower food choices:

#1: White Wine Sangria. Toast to the bride and groom with a festive, crowd-pleasing drink. Feel free to improvise when choosing the chopped fruit you include in this versatile recipe; try adding cherries, strawberries, or any other seasonal favorite to the pitcher. Not only will you reap the benefits of all that fruit, but, according to researchers, you’ll also be getting polyphenols and other antioxidants from the sauvignon blanc in the recipe. Studies show that the pulp of the grapes used to make white wine contains antioxidants, but different ones from those found in red wine. And other research has linked the antioxidants in white wine to improved lung functioning.

#2: Cold Fava Bean Soup. Packed with protein, fiber, and folate, and a good source of thiamine and zinc, fresh green fava beans are a real treat. Look for frozen shelled young fava beans in the freezer section of your supermarket. If you’re lucky enough to find fresh, plump fava beans, which grow best in hot, dry climates, choose crisp-looking pods, avoiding wilted ones. Fresh favas will keep in the fridge for up to a week. This soup gets additional flavor from thyme, an herb used for centuries in both cooking and pharmaceutical ways. It’s known to function as a cough remedy and a digestive aid. Can’t find fresh or frozen young fava beans? This Chilled Pea Soup with Mint is a perfect alternative.