Let's Talk Holiday Eating - Summer Style

My thighs are burning from all the walking/jogging/squats and deadlifts I did.  Mercy.

To keep my mind off of the muscle fatigue, I've been thinking about the upcoming holiday weekend... July 4th is next week.  Around here, that means fried chicken, barbecued sausages, potato salad, cole slaw, baked beans and corn on the cob.  It means watermelon and warm-weather desserts like strawberry shortcake and ice cream. 

Previously, that has meant frying oil, mayo-based sauces, butter and cream.  My waistline didn't get this big without help, you know.  I was talking to Carmen the other day about eating non-diet foods, and we agreed: if it isn't the best, most unbelievably delicious diet-breaker ever, don't bother with it.   Don't eat a mediocre cookie.  Don't waste your time (and the calories) on regular bread, or on tasteless muffins.  If you are going to eat something decadent, do it right.

Fried chicken is one of those things, IMO.  Real whipped cream and butter are others.  It just doesn't taste right with the fake stuff. 

So this Fourth of July, I'm planning to substitute similar foods for our picnicking favorites, and boost the servings of the already healthy offerings. 

Shishkababs are a great way to grill, while cutting down on the total meat being consumed.  I personally like to make my skewers all one type of food.  Peppers on one, onions on another.  Chicken, sausage, pineapple, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, whatever you like, all on their own skewers so that they cook evenly.  Then I like to dump the whole kit and caboodle in a big serving bowl.

I'm on the hunt for a good sweet potato-based salad that is served cold.  I'm also looking for a good alternative for cole slaw... one of my favorite includes ramen noodles and almonds, sauteed in butter, but it is just as bad as the cole slaw.  Maybe just a big green salad, huh?

What are you favorite summer foods - and how do you keep the calories down?

Comments

[Max]

I make sweet potato salad by mixing sweet potatoes (boiled just until soft and then cubed)with a dressing made from some Dijon mustard and lime mixed together with a dash of olive oil and some hot sauce. (I don't really have an actual recipe). Chill it overnight if you can.

There are lots of variations on this, depending on your taste. Sometimes I add chopped bell peppers (the sweet red and yellow ones are really good), or chopped scallions, and it's great with cilantro. My husband and I love this stuff; I actually think it's better than regular potato salad!

Cubed jicama, avocado, lime juice, hot sauce, and a little salt make an awesome potato-like salad that keeps very well.

Cooked quinoa mixed with tomatoes, peppers, radicchio, a few Greek olives, a bit of feta, lemon juice, whatever herbs, and a dash of olive oil also makes an excellent salad (this keeps in the fridge for days). The red quinoa looks really pretty in this.

[Cammy]

I confess I haven't tried this one yet, but I saved it just the other day in my "Must Try Soon" folder:

Sweet Potato Salad
Number of Servings: 2

Ingredients
1 cup cooked sweet potato
1/2 cup sweet corn, fresh
4 oz light yogurt, plain
1 large tomato
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp dried dill weed

Directions
In a small dish, mix the yogurt, dill and garlic. Set aside. (Note: this is better if let to sit overnight in the refrigerator.)
Bake sweet potato and allow to cool. Remove skin and cut into chunks.
Grill sweet corn (or cook on the stove) and remove from the ear once cooled with a paring knife.
Chunk tomato into 1/2 inch pieces.
Layer sweet potato, corn and tomato on a salad plate and top with yogurt sauce for a cool, refreshing and sweet salad that can be enjoyed for lunch or dinner.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=736

[becca]

OK, so I'm not a bbq expert, but I have a few ideas for you. =)

A great coleslaw recipe is to add some creme fraiche (lighter than sour cream, but I'm not sure if it's available in the US??) and lime juice to the shredded cabbage and carrots, and maybe a little sugar/sweetener as well as the usual seasonings. Or maybe some chopped apples and a bit of apple cider instead of lime juice. Both are light and fresh, but still yummy.

Other summer favourites are a really fresh tomato salad (tomatoes, sliced mozarella if you're not watching dairy, a balsamic vinagrette, and maybe some basil on top), or a nice thinly-sliced cucumber salad, or stuffed roasted peppers (with meat or veggie-style).

For summery desserts I love when you slice up fresh oranges or fresh pineapple, chill, and then serve with lots of grated coconut on top. It's so refreshing in the sunshine and is actually (who knew I'd say this!!) better than ice cream on a hot day, because it quenches thirst too.

OK, I'm out of ideas now, because living in Scotland I've forgotten what the sun feels like unless I'm on holiday outside of the country, or visiting the family in the US!!

All the best, hope your efforts succeed =)
Becca, UK

[Elizabeth]

I just got The Good Carb Cookbook, and they have some really delicious sounding recipes for Spicy Shrimp skewers, Peanutty Chicken skewers, Steak on a Stick, Apple Crunch Coleslaw, Spinach and Pear Salad (seriously, YUM). But no potato recipes at all, weird. My G.I. Diet book says boiled new potatoes and sweet potatoes are okay. Hmmm.

P.S. I've lost five pounds and a jeans size already-w00t!

[Missy]

I personally love coleslaw (my husband hates it, ironically) and I would try a low-fat mayo with it and possibly to cut the amount of mayo you use. I find that store-boughten coleslaw literally drips with mayonnaise and it makes it hard to even find the shreds of cabbage and carrot inside. That being said, a favorite restaurant of mine uses vinaigrette dressing instead of mayonnaise, which is tart but yummy, and would certainly cut the calories down. Another favorite of mine that is a good substitute for slaw is cucumber and onion salad -- you put vinegar, an equal amount water, a little sugar and a dash of wine in a bowl, throw in a couple cut-up cucumbers and a cut-up white onion, let it sit overnight in the fridge, and ... ooo, nice, chilly, tart and yummy. I could eat it by the pound.

Just for the record, my husband hates every single one of those dishes. Hmmmm.

[Tara]

I recently saw a sweet potato salad recipe in Good Housekeeping that I want to try. You can view it here:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/recipefinder/recipe/Sweet_Potato_Salad_with_Lemony_Buttermilk_Dressing/rf/4351

I am trying to lighten up my recipes, too, so this one caught my eye. Good luck with your bbq planning!