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Open house season and festive gatherings in Malaysia usually mean a table crowded with fried snacks: keropok, kuih, and whatever's left of the biskut raya tin. A few swaps on the same table give guests something to reach for that isn't deep-fried, without the platter looking bare.
Build a dates-and-nuts platter
Stuffed dates, plain Medjool or Mariami, and a small bowl of roasted almonds or cashews arranged next to the usual kuih give guests an obvious alternative that still looks like a proper spread. Dates hold their shape and don't go soggy sitting out for hours the way fried items do once they cool.
Swap the syrup-heavy drinks
Cordial and syrup-based drinks are often the sweetest thing on the table. A jug of date water, made by soaking a few dates overnight and serving the infused water chilled, gives a naturally sweet option without the added sugar of bottled syrup.
Fried kuih vs. a dates-and-oat bar
A tray of no-bake date-and-oat bars, pressed and cut into squares, sits next to the fried kuih tray just as easily and travels well if guests want to take some home. They keep at room temperature for the whole open house without going stale the way some fried items do by evening.
Snack bags for the door gift
Instead of a bag of keropok or biscuits as a parting gift, a small packet of dates and mixed nuts costs about the same to put together and keeps far longer in a guest's bag on the drive home.
None of this means clearing the fried snacks off the table, it just means the healthier option is sitting right next to them instead of somewhere guests have to go looking for it.