50+ Lifestyles

Add Variety and Health to your Grilled Entrees!

By Krystle Hergert, RD, LDN
Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian
(563) 243-6162 | hkearney@hy-vee.com

We are a few months into grilling season – a great time to add variety to your grilling adventures beyond traditional hamburger and hot dog options! While we all love those summer favorites, it can be nice to add some variety, as well as some healthier choices, to our gatherings. Here are some tips and tricks to expand your grilling repertoire with healthy, delicious options!

Even people who love fish sometimes shy away from grilling it, for fear of over-cooking it, or having it fall apart. The trick is to use the right grilling method for the right fish.

Pop these directly on the grill:

Grill these in foil packets or a grill basket:

Compared to a traditional ground beef burger of the same size, a burger made with Jennie-O Lean Ground Turkey has less than half the calories and about one-fifth as much saturated fat! Think turkey burgers are dry? Think again! Here are some great tips for grilling turkey burgers:

Use these great tips to try out the recipe below:

Hawaiian Turkey Sliders

Serves 6 (1 slider each)

All you need:

• 1 pound 93%-lean ground turkey
• 2 tbsp. reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce
• 2 scallions, sliced
• 1 large clove garlic, minced
• 6 Hy-Vee (1/4-inch-thick) pre-cut fresh pineapple rings
• 1 small red onion, cut into 1/4-inch-thick rings
• 6 toasted slider buns, preferably whole-wheat
• 2 tbsp. Hy-Vee mayonnaise, divided
• 6 small leaves Boston lettuce, divided

All you do:

1. Preheat grill to medium-high.
2. Combine turkey, teriyaki sauce, scallions and garlic in a medium bowl; gently knead together. Do not over-mix. Form into 6 burgers, about 3 inches wide. Oil the grill rack (see Tip). Grill the burgers until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center registers 165 degrees, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Grill pineapple rings until lightly charred, about 2 minutes per side. Grill onions until lightly charred and starting to soften, about 2 minutes per side.
3. Assemble the burgers on toasted buns with 1 teaspoon
   mayonnaise, 1 lettuce leaf, 1 pineapple ring and about
   3 onion rings each.

Tips: To oil a grill rack, oil a folded paper towel, hold it with tongs and rub it over the rack. Do not use cooking spray on a hot grill.

Nutrition Facts per serving: 286 calories, 12g fat, 2g saturated fat, 58mg cholesterol, 320mg sodium, 28g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 10g sugars, 19g protein.  Daily values: 48% vitamin C.

Source: adapted from EatingWell, Inc.
Krystle Hergert, RD, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Hy-Vee, Inc.
2001 5th Street
Silvis, IL 61282

Krystle Hergert is a registered dietitian at Hy-Vee. She can be reached at (309) 792-1507 or at khergert@hy-vee.com.