Lighten up
Here are 10 ideas to lighten up on the fat, calories and sodium, while still enjoying the great tastes of summer.
Burgers
- Make your own burgers. Use extra-lean ground beef, turkey or chicken.
- Size down the patties. A pound of ground meat could easily make four or five burgers. Better yet, make slider-style mini burgers.
- Go meatless. Try bean burgers made with mashed lentils or black beans – delicious!
- Skip the salt. Season your burgers with garlic, onion, black pepper, oregano and a multitude of other herbs.
- Pick healthy toppings. The sodium in ketchup, mustard and relish can add up quickly. Instead, add delicious, sodium-free toppings such as lettuce, tomato slices, grilled peppers, red onions, and avocado.
Salads
- Bring out the beans. Instead of a creamy potato salad, serve this fibre packed Southwestern Bean Salad over a bed of salad greens. It's made with orange or yellow peppers, fresh tomatoes, and corn.
- Go easy on the dressing. Forget the creamy, high-fat salad dressings. Take advantage of fresh raspberries and make this low-fat Raspberry Tarragon Vinaigrette. It goes well with any type of green salad.
- Focus on vegetables and fruit. This refreshing low fat Citrus Mango Salad combines fresh juicy mango with red pepper and tomatoes. Enjoy!
Desserts
- Serve up summer. Make an irresistible fruit salad or fruit platter. Blueberries, strawberries, cherries, peaches and watermelon are all in season now.
- Try a lower fat treat. Enjoy a scoop of frozen yogurt instead of ice cream. Add some fresh berries and a few mint leaves for a tasty, colourful presentation.