23 Healthy Mardi Gras Foods

From the Recipe Creator: Sure makes life easy having this healthy Mardi Gras food stashed away in the freezer! Another plus, you throw it all in the slow cooker—no skillet necessary. —Diane Smith, Pine Mountain, Georgia

From the Recipe Creator: This healthy Mardi Gras food’s simple spice rub gives pork tenderloin an irresistible flavor. You’ll watch in delight as these tasty open-faced sandwiches disappear from the buffet table! —Mae Kruse, Monee, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: If you have picky eaters who worry about texture, roasted okra is marvelous. It's OK to crowd the pan. Okra shrinks as it cooks. —Anna Katsoulis, Greenville, North Carolina

From the Recipe Creator: I like food that has a little zip to it, and this Creole chicken recipe hits the spot every time. It’s especially good served over rice. —Dolly Hall, Wheelwright, Kentucky

From the Recipe Creator: A delightful and tasty rub makes this healthy Mardi Gras food fantastic. While the fish is sitting to allow the flavors to blend, you can easily assemble the salsa. My family loves this! —Laura Fisher, Westfield, Massachusetts

From the Recipe Creator: I tasted a similar dish at a local restaurant and later duplicated it pretty closely. I trimmed it down a bit and no one in my family seemed to mind. —Susan Wright, Champaign, Illinois

From the Recipe Creator: Reel in a breezy taste of the seashore with these baked—rather than fried—crab cakes. For a heftier meal, make two larger patties and serve them on buns. —Amelia Sunderland, Nashville, TN

From the Recipe Creator: My family loves New Orleans–style cooking, so I make this dish often. I appreciate how simple this healthy Mardi Gras food is, and the smoky ham flavor is scrumptious. —Celinda Dahlgren, Napa, California

From the Recipe Creator: I like making this healthy Mardi Gras food because it allows me to stay on track for my weight loss without giving up foods I love. —Nicholas Monfre, Oak Ridge, New Jersey

From the Recipe Creator: The kicked-up marinade on these shrimp makes this a flavor-packed dish. Serve over rice, and make sure to squeeze those charred lemons over top—that makes them taste extra bright and delicious. —Sharon Delaney-Chronis, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: I make a soup every football Sunday. I came up with this recipe because I wanted to use lots of vegetables to keep it healthy, but wanted it to be interesting. My wife suggested adding the andouille and now it’s one of my favorite healthy Mardi Gras foods. —Steven Thurner, Janesville, Wisconsin

From the Recipe Creator: Tradition has it that if you eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, you'll enjoy prosperity all year through—but I serve this tasty combination of pasta, peas and tangy tomatoes anytime. —Marie Malsch, Bridgman, Michigan

From the Recipe Creator: This healthy Mardi Gras food is representative of my area of the country, and particularly the Texas-Louisiana border. The okra, corn and Creole seasonings are all popular here. —Ruth Aubey, San Antonio, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: My cold rice salad has a little hint of spice for a classic jambalaya-style kick. Shrimp, tomatoes, ham and peppers give the dish bright colors and a delightful texture. —Karen Rahn, Hixon, Tennessee

From the Recipe Creator: You can’t get more southern than succotash. This healthy Mardi Gras food comes from my mother, who was a fantastic cook. This dish made her famous—at least with everyone who ever tasted it. —Rosa Boone, Mobile, Alabama

From the Recipe Creator: My grandma used to make this for our family on special occasions. We love to carry on the delicious tradition. —Tonya Cline, Greenville, Ohio

From the Recipe Creator: Try serving this spicy halibut recipe with garlic mashed potatoes, hot, crusty bread and a crisp salad to lure in your crew. After trying a few halibut recipes, this one is my family's favorite. —Brenda Williams, Santa Maria, California

From the Recipe Creator: This flavorful entree won’t leave you hungry since it uses convenient canned beans in place of meat. —Crystal Jo Bruns, Iliff, Colorado

From the Recipe Creator: These zippy shrimp bring a lot of pizazz to the table. Use as much or as little cayenne pepper as you'd like, depending on your family's tastes. We love ours served alongside rice pilaf. —Donna Thomason, El Paso, Texas

From the Recipe Creator: When my wife asks what she should make for a gathering, she's always told to bring this—and a couple of copies of the recipe! — Robert Saulnier, Clarksburg, Massachusetts

From the Recipe Creator: I love to share my cooking, and this hearty sheet-pan dinner has built a reputation for being tasty. People have actually approached me in public to ask for the recipe. —Laurie Sledge, Brandon, Mississippi