Get Ready for a Healthful Memorial Day!
Are you looking to make healthful treats for Memorial Day, but still hoping to impress your guests? Well, look no further, because we've got everything you need to make tasty food that is good for your health! These amazing recipes are perfect for any spring or summer party.
Idea #1: The Appetizer: One of our favorite ways to serve a vegetable appetizer is by turning a traditional method on its head. Instead of laying out fresh vegetable crudités around a bowl of dip, we like to take individual glasses, drop a tablespoon of dip into the bottom of each one, then stand veggies in the dip until the glass is full. It's a gorgeous, creative presentation that is sure to please your guests.Idea #2: The Side Moving from appetizers to side dishes, another great idea for spring and summer entertaining involves potato salad, with a twist. In our favorite recipe, Grilled Potato Salad, we give traditional potato salad a serious oomph of flavor while reducing the salt and fat content. Give it a try and let us know what you think!Idea #3: Dessert Of course, who could forget dessert? This can be a hard one to make both healthful and show-stopping, but we've got a few tricks up our sleeves. One of the most popular is a watermelon "cookie." The recipe, straight from our amazing eBook Fruit Tooth, is both simple and fun, so we've copied it for you below...
Ingredients:
- Half of a large watermelon
- Powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and/or chocolate chips
Directions:
- Place the cut side of the melon half on a cutting board, then measure 1/2 inch up from the base. Make a mark in the rind at that spot.
- Measure 1/2 inch up from that spot and mark the rind again.
- Repeat until you have reached the top of the melon.
- Thinly slice an edge of rind from the opposite side of the watermelon so that you can lay it flat, with the cut side facing you and the 1/2 inch marks facing up.
- Once the melon is rotated and steadied, align your knife with the mark you made at the first 1/2 inch point, and slice down through the rind, fruit, and the rind on the opposite side.
- Set that segment aside, and repeat until you have several 1/2 inch thick watermelon rounds.
- Set aside whatever watermelon remains, and place one of your 1/2 inch thick watermelon rounds on the cutting board.
- Use your favorite cookie cutters to slice the rounds into whimsical shapes. Repeat with remaining rounds until you’ve used up all of your watermelon.
- Place “cookies” on a platter and sprinkle a tiny bit of powdered sugar, cocoa powder, or chocolate chips at the center of each “cookie.” Refrigerate until ready to serve.
Nutrition Information:
- 2-3 medium “cookies” contain 75 calories, less than 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 2 mg sodium, 18 grams of carbohydrate, 1 gram of fiber, 15 grams of sugar, and 1 gram of of protein.
Chef's Tips:
- Use a seedless watermelon for the best, and most “cookie-like” results.
- Not a fan of any of the topping options? Make your own! Try a dash of colorful sprinkles or a drizzle of fresh berry compote.
Idea #4: The Main Dish But wait, there's more! So far we've covered appetizers, sides, and desserts, but what about the main event? Now that the weather is getting milder, it's time to dust off the grill. Why not whip up a Grilled Farmers' Market Dinner? Or maybe some Chicken Fajita Skewers? After all, everything tastes better on a stick. The grilled MyPlate you can create with a Grilled Chicken and Chard recipe is another amazing entree option. The possibilities are endless! Which will you choose?Well, that's it from us today! How will you be keeping your Memorial Day celebrations fun and healthful? Let us know by tweeting us @foodhealth or writing on our Facebook wall.Want to have time for that Memorial Day celebration? Check out the amazing resources in the Nutrition Education Store! With these handy posters, handouts, and bulletin board packages, you'll be able to save a ton of time and still give your clients the best educational materials around.
