Thursday, July 4, 2019

Fun and Healthy Tips for the Fourth of July

On the Fourth of July, many people gather together with their friends and family at cookouts. Although it’s a holiday, there can be many ways to make the food at these gatherings more health-conscious. Follow these tips in order to make sure that your family cookout has many nutritious options!

Watch portions. When making your plate, make sure half of the plate is filled with fruits and veggies, one quarter with protein, and the other quarter with grains. 
Prepare a vegetable plate. This can be made by grilling squash, peppers, corn, carrots, and cauliflower with olive oil and your favorite seasoning. Set the plate out so that everyone can munch on the veggies while the rest of the food is cooking. 
Add in some whole-grains. When making pasta salad, use whole-grain pasta with lots of veggies. Broccoli and peppers can be good options for pasta salad. Also, when making burgers, use whole-grain buns. 
Replace coleslaw with a healthier option. Coleslaw is often made with a lot of mayonnaise, so replacing the coleslaw with a carrot salad would be a better option. A carrot salad can be made with chopped carrots, plain Greek yogurt, raisins, and chopped apples. 
Choose meat wisely. When making burgers, choose lean ground beef, turkey, or chicken rather than high-fat options of meat. Making sliders rather than full-size burgers can also be a good way to watch your portion of protein. 
Make skewers in order to add veggies. If you make skewers with shrimp or chicken, you can add some peppers or grape tomatoes to the skewers in order to add more nutrients to the meal. 
Take advantage of the grill when it comes to dessert. For dessert, you can grill slices of pineapple or peaches. Topping this with vanilla yogurt, nuts, and a cherry can be a nice treat!

Cookouts on holidays can be loads of fun for everyone. Have the guests, including children, participate in the preparation of the meal in order to get everyone involved. Children can help wash fruits and veggies, stir ingredients, and even help assemble some of the meals. By following these tips, you can get everyone involved at your Fourth of July cookout, while also adding in some nutritious options! 


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