Fresh fruit and vegetables may be in season during the summer, so why does our diet tend toward barbecue and fried foods when it’s hot outside? Health reported July 9 on some of the least healthy summertime foods and some better alternatives you can try: - Ice cream sandwiches: Try some sorbet rather than packing hundreds of calories worth of ice cream between two cookies. - Fried dough: Not much good to say nutritionally about deep-fried flour, butter, shortening, and sugar. - Corn dog: Rather than deep-frying your hot dog, look for a low-fat and low-sodium variety you can eat on a whole-wheat bun. - Lobster roll: It’s not the lobster that’s the problem, it’s the mayonnaise and the buttered white bun. Make your own at home so you can limit the bad stuff. - Fried clams: There’s 500 calories and 26 grams of fat in just three-quarters of a cup. Cook them rather than frying to get the vitamin B12 without the fat. - Ribs: Full of saturated fat, and the sauce is usually loaded with sugar. Cut off visible fat when cooking at home, and try a dry rub rather than sauce. - Daiquiris: Actually can have more calories than a burger. - Macaroni and potato salads: Again, the villain is mayonnaise. - Onion rings: Dipping in egg and deep frying deletes any healthy aspect of the onions. Baking onion rings dipped in egg whites and rolled in panko bread crumbs, flour, and grated parmesan cheese is a healthier alternative. - Corn on the cob: Perfectly healthy — if you leave off the butter and salt. - Watermelon: This healthy choice is full of lycopene and low in calories. - Iced tea: Another summer treat that’s fine if you don’t add sugar. Lots of antioxidants in the black and green varieties. - Fruit salad: Don’t add syrup, do add berries for extra nutrition. - Gazpacho: Cold veggie soup is ideal in the warmer months. - Grilled chicken kabobs: Better than the beef variety, this low-fat meal is even better when you add vegetables or fruit to the skewer. - Zucchini: Rich in vitamin C and low in calories, it can be grilled, baked, sauteed, or eaten raw. - Shrimp cocktail: High in protein, low in calories!
Posted on: Thu, 15 Aug 2013 19:24:49 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015