Swedish meatballs are such a retro potluck throwback, they are simply rolling in ironic hipness.

Meaty, tender, juicy, sweet and sour, they are addictively easy to spear with a toothpick and pop one after another at a party. That’s why I love to serve them at my Oscar party.

But I do it with a difference. There are countless recipes for Swedish meatballs, but most aren’t all that diet-friendly. Most varieties pack nearly 74 calories and more than 4 grams of fat per meatball. I knew I could do better. So I mixed and matched to come up with a lighter, healthier version of this popular appetizer.

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