July 4th Recipes From Our Nutritionist
Whether you’re bringing a dish or hosting a cookout, there are lots of healthy options beyond beef burgers and potato salad. And you don’t have to sacrifice taste. From fruit kababs to chocolate dessert, nutritionist Jamie Leskowitz, MS, RD, a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at Columbia, picks these healthy recipes for her own summer grilling.
Grilled Fruit Kebabs
For a side or dessert, it takes just 12 minutes to turn pineapple, strawberries, and other simple ingredients into a healthy BBQ fruit skewer. Leskowitz says the tablespoon of maple syrup is an acceptable amount to be spread across six servings, but she suggests swapping the vanilla yogurt for plain.
Black Bean Veggie Burgers
With simple ingredients, rich flavors, and a great texture (thanks to the walnuts), this main dish is ready in five steps. Leskowitz suggests using light mayo to cut back on calories.
Summer Kale Avocado Blueberry Salad
This nutrient-packed salad makes for a colorful side dish. Leskowitz omits the cheese to reduce calories, saturated fat, and sodium.
Yogurt Bark with Strawberries and Chocolate Chips
Studded with berries and chocolate chips, this health-conscious treat is great for dessert and is also freezer-friendly. Leskowitz opts for using low fat yogurt.
References
Jamie Leskowitz, MS, RD, is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist at the Metabolic and Weight Control Center at Columbia.