5 Ways to Upgrade Your Burger This Summer

As a foodie, when I think of summer, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t swimming or catching lighting bugs, but rather picnics and barbecues. When I was a child, we often had cookouts with burgers and hot dogs. For those of us who continue to enjoy cookouts and perhaps even summertime meat, I invite you to upgrade those burgers (or hot dogs) in the following ways):

• Always buy organic, grass-fed (pastured) beef.
• Opt for unsweetened ketchup. Most at the health food store have lots of sugar, but here’s one I like.
• Go better than whole wheat with a sprouted whole grain bun, such as those made by Food for Life.
• Add lots of veggies to the top and more on the side! I top my burgers with raw onions, micro greens, sprouts, and lettuce–and I love tomatoes this time of year. Sometimes I’ll add mushrooms, red peppers, or avocado. Or how about cucumbers and squash, like on the burger pictured at right?
• Try sauerkraut as a topping for a healthy dose of good bacteria.

And for those of us who don’t eat meat or want to limit our meat consumption, there are many alternatives. I make delicious millet burgers (I’ll post a recipe next week) or other grain or bean burgers. Black bean burgers are a family favorite. I don’t recommend the pre-made veggie burgers; homemade are much tastier and healthier!

For other ways to upgrade your favorite foods, schedule a free 30-minute strategy session by emailing sweavergoss@gmail.com.

Be well,

Suzanne, Certified Holistic Health Coach