LIGHT STYLE : Appetizers on a Stake

There’s no need to avoid appetizers if the choices are light. You can, for instance, take a lean piece of meat, poltry or shellfish, flavor it with a low-sodium marinade and skewer it with fruit, then barbecue it on the grill. Like this:

SIRLOIN TERIYAKI

1 pound beef top sirloin, cut in 1/2-inch cubes

2 oranges or tangerines, peeled and sectioned

1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

Thread sirloin cubes on 12 presoaked bamboo skewers or small metal skewers alternately with mandarin orange segments. Arrange in single layer in shallow dish. Pour soy sauce over skewers and marinate, refrigerated, 1 hour. Place under broiler or on barbecue grill and cook to desired doneness. Makes 12 servings.

Note: Vary seasoning by adding to marinade: 2 tablespoons rice vinegar, 1/4 cup orange juice and/or 2 cloves garlic, minced.

Each skewer contains about:

72 calories, 99 mg sodium, 27 mg cholesterol, 3 grams fat, 3 grams carbohydrate, 9 grams protein, 0 fiber, 33% calories from fat.

Exchanges: 1 meat.