This Fourth of July your BBQs are going to be filled with tons and tons of food that will be hard to pass up. And that means they can wreak havoc on your diet! The last thing you want to do is ruin what you'll already successfully lost. Therefore, you'll want to be able to enjoy the barbecues but at the same time you don't want to have to worry about the pounds creeping back on.
And the good news is you DON'T have to worry about being the party pooper at the celebrations you are attending because we have the solution for you. And yes you will be able to have your treats and burgers too!
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You want to be able to enjoy yourself at a barbecue instead of focusing on what you can and can't eat. With this foolproof plan, you won't even question whether you're on a diet or not. And the best part is these meals are easy and fast to make so you won't feel like you're skimping on food for the day.
So fire up that grill and enjoy these healthy meals you can add to your Fourth of July menu!
Grilled fruit kebab: Pile on the pineapple, peaches, bananas, grapes, strawberries– you name it! Melt some honey in a saucepan and then drizzle over the skewers before placing them on the grill. Once they're on the grill, leave them for about 5 to 10 minutes and you'll have delicious grilled fruit that will satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sangria: You can still drink alcohol on the 4th of July (yay!), but try and stick with Sangria. Sangria already contains lots of fruit in it making it a healthier boozy choice. Make sure to pile on the fruits of your choice!
Turkey burger sliders: You don't have to miss out on a good old burger this holiday. Instead, opt for the turkey, the leaner meat to make your sliders. Season ground turkey meat with herbs and spices you enjoy and then place them on the grill. The best part is they won't take too long to make since they're small!
Grilled veggie skewers: Add some of your favorite vegetables such as squash, onions, corn, peppers to a kebab stick and drizzle some olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste. Leave on the grill for about 15 minutes before chowing down.
Garden pasta salad: You can't have a barbecue without some yummy pasta salad. Choose a whole grain pasta and once its cooked, toss it in some olive oil and salt. Add some grilled veggies to the mix, plus herbs to season it and give it a colorful look.
Blue corn tortilla chips: See, you can still have chips at your BBQ, just make sure they're blue corn or another such as quinoa and black bean chips to satisfy your craving. You'll gain tons of vitamins and fiber, but they taste so good, you'll forget they're healthy! Keep the salsa, but ditch the cheese sauces filled with saturated fats.
Typical BBQ foods you CAN have: Hot dogs are lower in calories than you think, so don't be afraid to eat this popular summer food. If you do choose to put condiments on your dog, make sure you stick to lower calorie ones such as mustard or relish. Cole slaw is a better option than the potato salad as the latter has tons of mayo in it which ups the fat count. The slaw at least has many detoxifying agents and is low in calories. Go for a glass of beer, which is less than 100 calories, but make sure to stick with water or other low cal drinks for the remainder of the night.
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