News Taffy

Summer brings out the grill master in many of us and any reason is a good excuse for a cookout. This summer, think about ways to make your cookout healthier without sacrificing the fun or giving up the foods you love. My family celebrated the 4th with hot dogs and hamburgers but also included fresh fruit and vegetables instead of the same old greasy chips. Here are a few suggestions to add nutrition to your next barbecue.

If you have chips, serve a homemade salsa. Salsa is easy to prepare and can be made ahead. There are so many great recipes for salsa and dips that don’t involve cheese and mayo that a whole book could be (and probably is) devoted to the subject. Use corn, black beans and bell pepper for a Southwest flair, pineapple, peaches or mangoes for a fruity version or try salsa verde with tomatillos. Guacamole is great too. Just avoid the store bought versions which have too much salt and preservatives.

Bring on the fruit! It’s hot and cold fresh fruit really hits the spot. Make it fun by threading chunks of seasonal fruit on skewers or even try grilling it. A cold watermelon is always appreciated and couldn’t be more simple. Don’t weigh the fruit down with fatty dressing, serve it plain. If you are having dessert, make something with fruit like a peach and berry pie, just cut back on the sugar. Or serve grilled fruit over pound cake or a scoop of ice cream.

Grill fresh vegetables. Vegetables really shine when done on the grill. Try placing corn cobs on the grill, then giving them a squeeze of lime juice and a sprinkle of chili powder. Keep it simple by just tossing vegetables with olive oil, salt and pepper. You can also make a sandwich with grilled zucchini or eggplant, fresh basil, tomato and mozzarella cheese.

Instead of sodas, add fresh fruit or even cucumber slices or fresh mint leaves to a pitcher of water or tea to flavor it. The fruit or vegetables add a subtle flavor without the sugar and hydrates you better.

Try whole wheat buns instead of the usual white ones. If you already eat whole wheat bread, this won’t be a big adjustment. Cut back on the cheese and bacon on hamburgers and try avocado slices and some nice tomatoes from the farmer’s market. There are hundreds of hot dog topping suggestions on the internet such as a relish made from pineapple and bell pepper with a bit of jalapeño. Thinking outside the bun doesn’t always lead to Taco Bell but can lead to great culinary discoveries.

For more recipes, see my website at cardiologistswife.com.