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GRILL UP A GREAT DAD’S DAY
Make Boring BURGERS BETTER
By Laura Zurita, RD, LDN

It is almost time for Father’s Day again, and most dads love to rule the grill—whether it is charcoal, gas, tabletop, or over a campfire. This year, make it special for dad by having the kids help out, no matter what their age, in preparing, cooking, and, of course, eating!

Burgers don’t have to be boring, especially if they are dad’s favorite. Mix it up a little with some zesty add-ins, such as dry Italian seasoning mix, chopped onions or green peppers. Barbeque, Worcestershire, hot wing, or A1 steak sauce also add flavor to the meat and make a boring burger better.

Want to have the neighborhood watching, or just have some old fashioned fun? Have a burger building contest! Have the old standbys of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, pickles, and different types of cheese ready to go, and try unusual toppings like blue cheese spread, grilled pineapple rings, hummus, horseradish, boursoin cheese, wasabi mayonnaise, hot and sweet peppers or sliced avocados. Don’t forget an array of hot sauce, barbeque sauce or spicy mustards too.

Have squeezable ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise on hand to make the masterpiece complete, and make creativity flourish with decorative touches. Sprouts, cucumbers, lettuce, tomato and olives, along with toothpicks that the little ones can use to make faces make for a well done finishing touch, so have the camera handy.

For the health conscious dads and families, swap white rolls with whole grain or whole wheat, and ground beef with ground turkey, or switch to veggie burgers. If hot dogs are also a grilling must for your family, make sure you have his (or the kids’) favorite, and get creative with the toppings. Besides the usual yellow mustard, ketchup, sauerkraut and pickle relish, try cheese whiz, different types of cheese such as mozzarella, or add your favorite chili and crushed corn chips. Salsa and wasabi mayo are also good toppings for dads (and others) who like it hot. Hot or sweet sausage patties or links, or knockwurst also are easy to grill, fun to eat and also taste great with grilled peppers, onions, and a variety of toppings.

For a dad with a more sophisticated palate, kick it up a notch with meat, shrimp, or veggie skewers. Chicken, beef and lamb taste great grilled, and provide a good protein source along with the veggies. If you’re using wooden skewers, soak them first in water for 15 minutes to prevent burning. A simple marinade is as easy as using a bottle of Italian dressing, or making one with a pack of dry Italian dressing mix and balsamic vinegar.

Another simple marinade is to whisk soy sauce, chopped garlic, fresh ginger, and orange juice together. Lime or lemon juice work well also with chopped thyme, basil or your favorite fresh herbs.

Slice and skewer a selection of fresh veggies. Mushrooms, colorful peppers, yellow and green squash, and grape tomatoes work great and hold up well on the grill. Add in some cubed pineapple and you have a great and healthy combination. Older children can help by slicing and skewering, while little ones may do better just making the skewers—metal ones are probably less sharp and easier to handle for this crowd. The kids can also help by filling bowls with toppings and carrying supplies to the eating area. Older kids can can probably even join in the actual cooking and help when it’s clean up time

Top off the grilling adventure by toasting marshmallows over the coals, gas grill or campfire and top with chocolate and graham crackers for the always popular s’mores.

Another quick dessert idea is to grill peaches or pears and top with brown sugar or ice cream. Delicious and easy! Above all, let dad have his fun with the grill, and make the eating the best part of the day.

Laura Zurita is a registered and licensed dietitian, food technologist, and educator. Her passion is communicating information about nutrition and the science of food to all types of audiences. Currently she is a mostly stay-at-home mom in New Jersey.