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!
For more tips for your holiday gathering, go to: https://www.eatright.org/food/nutrition/eating-as-a-family/best-foods-for-fourth-of-july-grilling
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