Are you tired of serving the same thing at your Fourth of July cookout every year? Ditch the hot dogs and potato chips and try some of the nutrient-dense and festive food ideas below at your next cookout! If you are working to eat healthy this holiday season these are GREAT options for enjoying some delicious and festive food while still making good food choices. Whenever I am trying to make good food choices I always offer to bring a dish to pass at parties that I know I can eat when the queso is calling my name. Any of these are great options for bbq's, parties or picnics!
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(above) Appetizer: Red White & Blue "Caprese" Fruit Skewers
Most of us have had the little toothpicks at parties with tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil before, but you can do the same thing with fruit! Fresh mozzarella goes really well with the flavors from the strawberry and blueberry, but you can always opt to use tomato for your red color and still leave blueberry on for the festive blue. Purchase the little balls of mozzarella to make assembly easier.
To Make: Wash the produce and slice the strawberries. Assemble strawberry, fresh mozzarella, basil, and blueberry onto a toothpick. Option to drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette. Serve as a hand-held appetizer at your party.
(above) Grilled Chicken with Pineapple, Corn, and Peppers
Hot dogs are boring and can also leave you feeling less than stellar after a cookout, so why not offer some vibrant grilled fruits, veggies, and chicken instead? Most people don't even think to grill fruit, but pineapple tastes great on the grill.
To Make: Chicken: Marinate chicken and grill as usual. Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Corn on the Cob: Soak the entire corn husk in water for about 10 minutes and then grill while still in the husk (rotating frequently) for about 20 minutes or so (until corn is tender). Pineapple: Cut into slices (or buy pre-sliced) and grill on each side for about 5 minutes (use upper rack if possible). Peppers: Spray mini bell peppers with a little bit of oil or cooking spray and then cook on grill or grill pan until they begin to blacken a bit.
(above) Burger Salad Bowls
Forget your standard and predictable grilled burgers and lay out ingredients for a burger salad bar instead! Of course, you can still offer buns as an option for your more traditional guests, if desired. Burger salad bowls are delicious and the possibilities for toppings and dressings are endless.
To Make: Put out a buffet of things like romaine lettuce, onions, tomatoes, pickles, cucumbers, coleslaw (or broccoli slaw), cheese, and the grilled burgers. Let guests assemble their own burger salads.
Suggested Condiments: Ketchup, mustard, relish, and Thousand Island Dressing. When you use the combination of romaine, burger, cheese, red onion, pickles, and Thousand Island Dressing, your salad will taste just like a Big Mac (without all of the extra junk). You can also just mix coleslaw into your salad bowl since it is moist enough to act as a dressing.
(above) Dessert: Angel Food Cake with Festive Berries and Whipped Cream
This dessert couldn't be easier and won't require you to heat up your kitchen at all! It will remind guests of traditional strawberry shortcake, but with a lighter fare due to using Angel Food Cake instead of traditional biscuits.
To Make: Buy a store-bought Angel Food Cake and put out a bowl of washed berries and whipped cream for toppings. You could also mash the berries up and use them as more of a sauce to pour over the top, if desired. There's always the option to replace the whipped cream for ice cream too (or use both).
Kelsey Stricklen, MS RD CLT is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in women's health and food sensitivities. She runs a primarily virtual private nutrition practice out of Grand Rapids, Michigan called Nutrition in the Mitten. You can check out her services and blog here. Or find her on Instagram here.
Kelsey Stricklen, MS RD CLT is a Registered Dietitian who specializes in women's health and food sensitivities. She runs a primarily virtual private nutrition practice out of Grand Rapids, Michigan called Nutrition in the Mitten. You can check out her services and blog here. Or find her on Instagram here.
