Now that the weather’s warm outside, it’s time to take out your grill and start barbecuing up some hamburgers and hot dogs! If you’re looking to eat healthier this summer, choose hamburgers over hot dogs. These are some simple ways to make your burger more nutritious without sacrificing the taste.
The Patty
The most important part of the burger is the meat and hamburgers are usually made from ground beef, which is high in fat. Instead chose lean meats like 93% lean ground turkey or chicken, 90% lean ground beef, ground bison, or ground venison. You can make your patties even healthier by adding spinach, shredded zucchini, mushrooms, or shredded carrots. Or you can go meatless by opting for bean and veggie burgers, grilled portobellos, or a salmon patty.
The Bun
What good is a hamburger without a bun? Instead of choosing white buns, use whole wheat buns. If you want a lower-carb option, you can use flatbread, lettuce wraps, or grilled vegetable slices like eggplant or portobello mushrooms.
The Toppings
Toppings make the burger, but be careful as they can be high in calories, sugars, and saturated fats. Skip bacon, eggs, mayo and aioli, cheese, and fried onions. Instead go for veggies, hot sauces, BBQ sauces, ketchup, and mustard.
