no cook, pregnancy-friendly starters

[StellaAlpina]

I am hoping you clever people can help me -

I'm hosting Christmas for the first time this year (for 10!) and would like some really easy nibbly/buffet/starter things to plonk down on the table before the main course...Only trouble is I'm not allowed to eat any of the tasty things I've thought of - like pate' or cured deli meats or fancy cheese, plus I've been told to avoid dairy in general (but that is less stringent). No one likes smoked salmon much either.

I'm a bit stumped and would like something a bit nicer than crisps and olives which is all I've got so far.

[RoganJosh]

You can eat cured meat from a packet I think, just not loose from a deli. Also a mozzarella, basil, tomato and avocado salad?
I always ate baked Camembert but it's your call as to whether it gets hot enough inside.

[StellaAlpina]

I have had a bit of a rough pregnancy, plus I'm from Italy where the rules on what you can eat or not are much stricter than the NHS' so I think I probably am a bit over cautious with food.
Mozzarella and tomato salad sounds nice and light before all the heavy food though :)

[LBOCS2]

Definitely a baked Camembert with something nice for everyone to dip in it. Or a seafood platter of some sort? Or... Some canapé bits made with tinned crab and chilli or similar? Nigella has some ideas.

To be honest though, I'm pregnant as well and the only thing I've been avoiding really is pate (and even then, just in large quantities). In the UK the risk of getting listeria from prepackaged meats and cheese is extremely low.

[Icklepickle101]

Sorry to hijack but are we allowed Camembert?! Please say yes please say yes please say yes I assumed it wasn't allowed and have just instructed DP to go and get some as a matter of urgency and he told me it wasn't worth the risk of Hysteria (tried not to laugh!!)

We always have mini sausages in bacon with a chutney type bit to nibble on with some crusty bread to dip in oil and balsamic vinegar

[LBOCS2]

As long as it's cooked, apparently so!

[IssyStark]

Any cooked cheese so Brie, Stilton etc is okay as long as it is cooked through not just vaguely warmed.

A starter I like is lettuce, chopped pear, walnuts and a little hard cheese of your choice crumbled (think something like Lancashire or Bulgarian white cheese) with a walnut nut oil and balsamic dressing. (Also works very well with blue cheese when you are allowed to eat it again)

[Jenijena]

Magic words from the NHS website that I'm sure weren't there three years ago..

"You can eat hard cheeses such as cheddar, parmesan and stilton"

I'd have gone for smoked salmon myself. But tomato & mozzarella salad sounds good...

[Canofpeas]

I thought the rules with cured meats are they're fine as long as you freeze them for a couple of days before eating.
....but the 'rules' keep changing.
No helpful thoughts on a starter though

[herecomesthsun]

just lost last post

so

-avocado
-melon
-quails eggs
-asparagus (previously cooked can be from a jar)
-italian antipasti veggies in jars so artichokes, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives
-tomato salad as above
-nuts
-crackers
-crisps
-nice Italian or French fine breads

I really sympathise, pregnant at Xmas is difficult but it is possible to find nice food, hope you have a good time

[lozengeoflove]

Been eating cured meats all throughout last and this pregnancy. Prosciutto is just so damn delicious!

[StellaAlpina]

Oooh great suggestions hearcomesthesun, nice and easy is what I'm looking for. I might make some little prosciutto and melon skewers too (prosciutto cotto is the only one i've been eating as it's cooked rather than cured)

Tbh, I'm not really going to be eating the starter as I'm going to frantically finishing the cooking. I've never even cooked a roast by myself before

[BlueChampagne]

Dips such as hummus?