Summer Party Survival Guide

While a family cookout or a neighborhood barbecue is supposed to be a time to eat, drink and be merry, those of us trying to follow a healthy path can find such events to be more trying than entertaining. The endless platters of grilled meats. The bottomless bowls of mayo salads, and the parade of refined carbs.
A typical meal from a cookout can have more than 1,500 calories and almost as much fat as you should eat for an entire day. You can cut the calories in half and boost the flavor with a few simple tricks!

• Choose extra lean ground beef or turkey to save 100 calories and more than half the fat of standard burgers.
• Opt for fat-free or low-fat all-beef hot dogs, turkey dogs or veggie dogs instead of bratwurst.
• Choose vegetables, ketchup and mustard and skip the cheese and mayo
• Drink water instead of soda, sweet tea or lemonade.
• Make macaroni salad with whole-wheat pasta to boost fiber.
• Use light vinaigrette instead of ranch dressing of may-based sauces for potato salad and veggie dips.
• Load up on fruit
• Choose whole-grain buns, baked chips or pretzels and limit the baked goods.
• Make kebabs using vegetables and lean meats for a lighter main dish.