The 4th of July is soon approaching, which means the opportunities to host BBQ’s across the county become more anticipated. What may not be so planned is the opportunity to completely throw the diet out the window. As the celebration of America comes around, so does the prominent stereotype of the population’s overweight appearance and multiple health risks, caused by the amount of fat and sugar we consume.
But with such an important holiday to come around, that doesn’t mean one should starve themselves. Which is why is this article, we will be going over 5 of the best alternative foods/snacks choices to consume during this time of the year, and possibly every day.
Sweet Potato Wedges
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Although the convince of potato chips might be much easier to prepare for a crowd, as seen from a past article about processed food, convenience does not always equal healthy.
Potato chips often contain a lot of trans fats and a substantial amount of sodium. Sweet Potatoes one their own, however, provide Vitamin C and Magnesium that can help fight back against heart diseases. When baked into the same form of crisps, they still keep a lot of their nutritional value. Furthermore, they can also be experimented on when cooking to get the right recipe of choice.
They can be found at any supermarket or can be baked by hand.
Soda “Water”
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This acts not only as an alternative for sodas that contain a lot of sugar and sodium, but also for beer, and perhaps other alcoholic drinks.
There are many calories in Beer that can cause massive weight gain if not appropriately monitored, and Americas are some of the largest consumers of this beverage.
That is why Club Soda acts as a great alternative as it has little to no calories and can also be played around with natural fruit juices to give the same satisfying feeling that soda or beer could provide.
If one is still in the mood for an alcoholic beverage(assuming you’re of the proper age to drink), wine would be the best options as it not only has much fewer calories but also contains several antioxidants to support the body.
Vegetable Platter
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Often seen as a lesser appetizer for guests, it might actually be one of the best options for their health. Because of vegetables such as carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. contain so many vitamins and antioxidants, it’s only logical why they would make the best alternative for microwavable frozen appetizers.
For the best results, use fresh vegetables and cut them up yourself instead of the pre-packaged treys. As those may contain less fresh produce. Not only will this allow better quality, but they also allow creativity to what type of vegetables to put.
Furthermore, it will also allow the opportunity to provide a much healthier dip as opposed to processed ranch often offered.
Burger Alternatives
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Here we come to the leading food of the hour: the hamburger. A BBQ Tradition and 4th of July staple without a doubt. But the beef it posses can contain the most fat out of all of the food presented. This is why there have been many types of alternatives that can bring satisfaction to the average meat lover.
Some of these include grounded pork, chicken, and the always favorite turkey. For those who are vegetarian, there are also options to ground cauliflower, chickpeas (such as garbanzo), or even a big portabella mushroom.
The possibilities for choices are near endless.
Dried Fruit
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Going back real quick to the vegetable plate option, another use in that spot is to have a fruit tray with a nonfat Greek yogurt dip. However, there is another use for fruit on an event like this.
Dried fruit such as raisins, cranberries, and dried versions of apples and cherries will provide the proper fructose to satisfy the sweet tooth one might have.
This acts as an excellent alternative for cupcakes and cookies which are filled to the brim with sugar and preservatives.