BURGERS AND HOT DOGS
Hamburgers and hot dogs are a big part of summer eating but they don’t have to be a diet disaster. Start with a 100% whole wheat bun instead of white for a healthy dose of fiber and watch the fat content of the meat. The average beef and pork hot dog contains about 180 calories and 17 grams of fat before you add a bun and toppings. Turkey dogs are tasty and won’t sabotage your diet—you can have two of them for less than 100 calories. If you’re going for a burger, stay away from the high-fat toppings like cheese, mayo and bacon. Choose cheese slices made with skim milk to reduce the fat content and load your burger with mustard and fresh veggies instead. Here's the burger 'n dog breakdown:
Worst, to Best
BURGERS
Hamburger patty (4 oz)
290 calories
22g fat
Turkey burger patty (4 oz )
160 calories
9g fat
Veggie burger patty (2.5 oz)
110 calories
4 grams of fat
Bratwurst (4 oz)
300 calories
HOT DOGS
25g fat Beef hot dog (2 oz)
180 calories
17g fat
Turkey dog (2 oz)
45 calories
5g fat
CONDIMENTS
Swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms
150 calories
13g fat
Cheese, lettuce, tomato,
onion, pickles, ketchup, mayo and mustard
131 calories
9g fat
Lettuce, tomato, ketchup, pickles and mustard
25 calories
0g fat
CHIPS, SALADS AND SIDES
If potato salad is your downfall, make your recipe healthier by leaving the skins on the potatoes (for more fiber and nutrients
and choose nonfat Greek-style yogurt instead of mayo. Make creamy cole slaw more waist-friendly by reducing the fat in the dressing by swapping plain low-fat yogurt for half the mayo. Baked beans are usually a good choice, but opt for vegetarian varieties that aren't made with bacon, if possible. If you want to avoid the creamy salad temptations completely, fill your plate with fresh grilled vegetables. Spray chunks of red peppers, yellow squash, zucchini and eggplant with canola oil spray and grill them on the barbecue. Add freshly ground pepper and a dash of balsamic vinegar for extra punch.
When it comes to dips, look for vegetable and fruit-based choices like guacamole (made from avocado fruit) and salsa (made from tomatoes and veggies). These pack healthy nutrients that creamy dips often don't.
Worst to Best
Potato salad (1/2 cup)
179 calories
10.3g fat Cole slaw (1/2 cup)
150 calories
8g fat Vegetarian baked beans (1/2 cup)
100 calories
1g fat
Ranch dressing (2 Tbsp)
180 calories
18g fat
Guacamole (4 Tbsp)
100 calories
8g fat Salsa (1/2 cup)
60 calories
0g fat
Potato or tortilla chips (1 oz)
150 calories
10g fat
Pretzels (1 oz)
110 calories
2g fat Raw vegetables (1 oz)
16 calories
0g fat
DRINKS
Calories from beverages can add up fast. And new research on artificial sweeteners shows that even diet soda, although
calorie free, can result in weight gain. When it comes to liquids, water is the only thing your body needs. But when it comes to grilling out, most people like to drink something both flavorful and refreshing. Check out below for some sweet ideas when you want something besides water.
Worst to Best
Lemonade (8 oz)
120 calories
Sweet tea (8 oz)
100 calories
Water with lemon (8 oz)
4 calories
Unsweetened tea (8 oz)
2 calories
PIES AND DESERTS
Berries make fresh, nutritious choices for summer and spring, but the way they're prepared can often add way more sugar than these naturally-sweet fruits need. Go for fresh fruit (like watermelon slices or fruit salad) as a healthy guilt-free dessert. Can't resist that cake or pie? Pile on the fresh berries and fruit and try just a taste of the cake, whipped cream or other dessert.
Worst to Best
Blueberry pie (1/8 of pie)
473 calories
19g fat
Strawberry shortcake with whipped cream and sweetened strawberries (2.5 oz)
325 calories
8g fat
Angel food cake (2 oz) with fresh strawberries (1/2 cup)
120 calories
0g fat
With a little preplanning, you can enjoy the summer festivities guilt free. Remember to always chose the "lesser of evils".
*information compiled from sparkpeople.com