Toni-Lynn
08-09-2008, 06:40 PM
http://www.scottcommonsense.com/images/ap_2008_07_healthful.jpg
Summertime brings us wonderful backyard get-togethers with our favorite foods cooked on the grill. Unfortunately, those all-American favorites aren't always the healthiest choices. Hot dogs, burgers and steaks are filled with fat and cholesterol. They're usually accompanied by salads with heavy, mayonnaise-based dressings. Dessert is often ice cream or s'mores that are jam-packed with sugar and calories.
Don't despair! Before you pack up your grill and store away your lawn chairs, consider some of these easy substitutions that will make your traditional cookout a little heart-healthier.
1. Choose leaner meats.
Replace fatty hot dogs and steaks with chicken breasts, turkey or veggie burgers, or hamburgers made with lower-fat ground sirloin (you can even top them with 2% American cheese slices). Keep some SCOTTŪ Towels next to the grill to soak up any extra fat. Lean tenderloin filets, seasoned and cooked properly, can have as much flavor as a more marbled cut of steak. You can even cube it and put it on skewers with lots of crunchy, marinated vegetables.
2. Serve lots of summer fruits and vegetables.
Replace one of your mayonnaise-based salads with a fruit salad, which is far more refreshing and lasts longer in summer temperatures. If you like a traditional potato salad, replace all or some of the mayonnaise with a low-fat variety and go easy on the hard-boiled eggs. Marinate vegetables and sear them in a special grill-top pan.
3. Offer plenty of low-calorie beverages.
We drink more fluids in the summer, which means we can unknowingly consume a lot more hidden calories. For example, fruit juices are healthy, but they shouldn't be a high-calorie substitute for water. Offer lots of water and low-calorie drinks. Sparkling water with a splash of juice and a lime wedge makes a great "mocktail."
4. Whip up light and refreshing desserts.
Everyone loves a fresh fruit parfait made with fat-free whipped cream, or a fruit trifle made with fat-free pudding and fruit-only jam. Look for recipes that use canola oil instead of butter, or low-fat cream cheese instead of the full-fat version. If time is short, frozen fruit bars are a very refreshing and healthy alternative.
5. Play some games!
Get your guests moving with a rousing game of volleyball, badminton, kickball or Frisbee. Not only will you have a lot of fun, but you'll work off any excess calories (and guilt!) too.
Bon appetit!
SOURCE (http://www.scottcommonsense.com/HealthyHints/Articles/TheAllAmericanCookout.aspx?articleID=46&catID=1)
What are your suggestions for a healthier cookout?
Summertime brings us wonderful backyard get-togethers with our favorite foods cooked on the grill. Unfortunately, those all-American favorites aren't always the healthiest choices. Hot dogs, burgers and steaks are filled with fat and cholesterol. They're usually accompanied by salads with heavy, mayonnaise-based dressings. Dessert is often ice cream or s'mores that are jam-packed with sugar and calories.
Don't despair! Before you pack up your grill and store away your lawn chairs, consider some of these easy substitutions that will make your traditional cookout a little heart-healthier.
1. Choose leaner meats.
Replace fatty hot dogs and steaks with chicken breasts, turkey or veggie burgers, or hamburgers made with lower-fat ground sirloin (you can even top them with 2% American cheese slices). Keep some SCOTTŪ Towels next to the grill to soak up any extra fat. Lean tenderloin filets, seasoned and cooked properly, can have as much flavor as a more marbled cut of steak. You can even cube it and put it on skewers with lots of crunchy, marinated vegetables.
2. Serve lots of summer fruits and vegetables.
Replace one of your mayonnaise-based salads with a fruit salad, which is far more refreshing and lasts longer in summer temperatures. If you like a traditional potato salad, replace all or some of the mayonnaise with a low-fat variety and go easy on the hard-boiled eggs. Marinate vegetables and sear them in a special grill-top pan.
3. Offer plenty of low-calorie beverages.
We drink more fluids in the summer, which means we can unknowingly consume a lot more hidden calories. For example, fruit juices are healthy, but they shouldn't be a high-calorie substitute for water. Offer lots of water and low-calorie drinks. Sparkling water with a splash of juice and a lime wedge makes a great "mocktail."
4. Whip up light and refreshing desserts.
Everyone loves a fresh fruit parfait made with fat-free whipped cream, or a fruit trifle made with fat-free pudding and fruit-only jam. Look for recipes that use canola oil instead of butter, or low-fat cream cheese instead of the full-fat version. If time is short, frozen fruit bars are a very refreshing and healthy alternative.
5. Play some games!
Get your guests moving with a rousing game of volleyball, badminton, kickball or Frisbee. Not only will you have a lot of fun, but you'll work off any excess calories (and guilt!) too.
Bon appetit!
SOURCE (http://www.scottcommonsense.com/HealthyHints/Articles/TheAllAmericanCookout.aspx?articleID=46&catID=1)
What are your suggestions for a healthier cookout?