OM NOM NOM.

Ah, fashion party food. Anyone who’s ever been to a fashion event, or any fancy holiday party for that matter, knows what we’re talking about here: The bounds of teensy-tiny, too-adorable-to-not-consume h’ors doeuvres that always seem to be hovering just an arm’s length away. Maybe you came right from work and haven’t had time to eat a proper dinner. Maybe that model-slash-cater waiter carrying the deviled quail eggs has been giving you the eyes since you first walked in (or… hasn’t he?). Whatever the reason, there you are. There they are. You have one choice: To eat, or not to eat. So what’ll it be?

As a fashion fete frequenter, abstract ideas such as my “health” and “well being” cross my mind from time to time. And though I still count chasing Ryan Lochte around as my main form of cardio, I wanted some expert opinions on the matter of party foods: Which ones to indulge in, and which ones to nix. Up to the task was president and founder of Eat Food, Elizabeth Fassberg, fitness trainer to the Victoria’s Secret Angels Justin Gelband, and dietician and author of The Small Change Diet, Keri Gans–each offering valuable professional advice about these all-too-tempting snacks. Advice that will no doubt be helpful this holiday season where eating is just as important as gifting (or is that just me?).

So what did I learn? Let’s just say, not all good things come in small packages–though some aren’t quite as bad as others. And while we’re probably not going to actually curb our party munching (pretty sure our whole dinner last night consisted of fried h’ors doeuvres), it’s nice to have some understanding of how healthy or unhealthy what we’re putting in our mouths is. Knowledge is power people! Read on to get some.