June is National Men's Health Month, making Father's Day the perfect time to celebrate the dads, grandfathers, husbands, and father figures in our lives while also focusing on health and wellness.

If you are planning a Father's Day cookout, healthy eating can still be part of the celebration. With a few simple swaps, you can enjoy flavorful grilled meals that support your weight loss goals.

Choose Lean Proteins for the Grill

Instead of relying on processed hot dogs or higher fat meats, try choosing leaner protein options that are still satisfying and full of flavor.

Better Grill Options

• Beef: flank steak, bottom round roast, eye of round roast, tri tip roast, or 95 percent lean ground beef
• Poultry: skinless chicken breast, skinless chicken thighs, ground turkey, or ground chicken
• Pork: pork tenderloin, bone in pork chops, or center cut pork chops
• Fish: salmon, tuna, tilapia, catfish, or sole

Tip: Marinating lean cuts of meat can help tenderize them and add flavor without adding unnecessary calories. Try olive oil, citrus juice, garlic, herbs, and spices.

Add Color to Your Plate

Many traditional barbecue sides are heavy and similar in color, such as potato salad, macaroni salad, chips, and creamy coleslaw. Adding colorful fruits and vegetables can make your meal more festive and more nutritious.

Try Colorful Sides Like

• Spinach salad with strawberries, oranges, cucumbers, carrots, and peppers
• Grilled zucchini, asparagus, onions, mushrooms, eggplant, or sweet potatoes
• Vegetable skewers with bell peppers, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and squash
• Fresh fruit trays with berries, melon, pineapple, and grapes

For extra flavor, drizzle vegetables with a small amount of olive oil and season with garlic powder, basil, oregano, salt, and pepper before grilling.

Use Fresh Seasonal Ingredients

Fresh summer produce can make simple meals taste amazing. Visit your local farmers market for fruits and vegetables that are in season and full of flavor.

Food Safety at the Grill

Food safety is an important part of any cookout. A few simple steps can help protect your family and guests while still enjoying a great meal.

Remember These Four Steps

• Wash: Wash hands, utensils, cutting boards, and grill tools before and after handling food.
• Separate: Keep raw meat, poultry, and seafood away from ready to eat foods.
• Cook: Use a food thermometer to make sure meats reach a safe internal temperature.
• Chill: Refrigerate perishable foods within two hours, or within one hour if it is hotter than 90°F outside.

Safe Internal Temperatures

• Chicken and poultry: 165°F
• Ground meats: 160°F
• Pork: 145°F
• Fish: 145°F
• Beef steaks and roasts: 145°F with a three minute rest

Pro tip: When in doubt, throw it out. It is better to be safe than risk foodborne illness.

Father's Day Grilling Recipes

Looking for healthier recipes to serve at your Father's Day cookout? These Figure Weight Loss recipes are flavorful, balanced, and perfect for summer grilling.

Grilled Pork Chops with Chipotle Tomato Corn Salsa

Jalapeno Turkey Burger

Grilled Veggie Kebabs

Final Thoughts

Father's Day is about spending time with family, making memories, and enjoying great food.

By choosing lean proteins, adding colorful vegetables, practicing food safety, and using healthier grilling recipes, you can enjoy a cookout that supports your health goals without sacrificing flavor.

At Figure Weight Loss, we believe healthy eating should fit real life. That includes holidays, cookouts, celebrations, and family traditions.

Happy Father's Day from all of us at Figure Weight Loss!

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Our physician supervised team can help you build a personalized plan that works with your lifestyle, schedule, and weight loss goals.