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The Fourth of July is a festive and fun opportunity to get together with family and friends to celebrate our historic freedom. It?s also a great way to ruin our diets and dental health by consuming foods high in calories, sugar and fat. These simple suggestions will help you make the most of your July 4th celebration while sticking with healthy food choices!
Explosively Good Drinks
There are recipes out there that instruct how to make drinks that are layered red, white and blue ? these are, however, terribly high in sugar, which decays teeth. Use fruit juice instead, such as cranberry juice, and serve it in blue and white cups. Another option is to make fruit puree out of strawberries or blueberries and freeze them in ice trays, using them to chill juice or clear diet soda.
Fantastic Fruit Kabobs
A flag cake is generally a must-have at a Fourth of July barbecue, but this option offers a tasty substitute. Using a rectangular tray and wooden skewers, make an American flag of fruit-kabobs from strawberries, banana slices and blueberries.
Starting from the left of the rectangle, arrange strawberries and banana slices on each skewer for the red and white of the flag. Use blueberries along the top half of each skewer for the blue section. Once halfway through the flag and the blue section is finished, eliminate the blueberries from the remaining skewers, and use banana slices and strawberries to complete your fruit-kabob flag.
?Patriotic Trail Mix
This trail mix can help celebrate the United States of America while offering a delicious treat. Mix red, white and blue options for a homemade trail mix, including
- dried cherries
- dried strawberries
- dried blueberries
- cashews or shelled peanuts
- yogurt covered raisins
- yogurt covered pretzels
- blueberries
- blue m&ms
No matter how you mix it, this trail mix is sure to be celebrated!
July 4th Chips and Salsa
Salsa can be made right in your own kitchen based on your personal preferences. Don?t like garlic? Don?t include it. Prefer more cilantro? The recipe is up to you. Use fresh ingredients to make your own special salsa recipe, like tomatoes, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, garlic, onion, and salt and pepper. Experiment with different combinations of sweet and savory, creating a mango or pineapple salsa with a kick. Surround your bowl of salsa with a mix of white and blue tortilla chips to complete this special snack.
Refreshing Fruit Pops
These fruit pops are easy to make, freeze and enjoy. Puree fresh fruit ? such as strawberries ? and mix with yogurt as desired. Pour the mixture into empty yogurt cups or small bowls, and put a popsicle stick, fork or spoon in the middle, standing straight up. Freeze until firm, then run under warm water for a few seconds to loosen the container. Substitute blueberries for a blue treat, or use vanilla yogurt for a white option.
These cool treats will help cool your guests off during your festive July 4th celebration without adding a bunch of fat and sugar, helping you to make the most of your time together.
Kelly Wilson is a busy mom and freelance writer with a bright, healthy smile. For more information on how to take care of your teeth, contact Dr. Ben Crusan, a Cosmetic Dentist in Battle Ground, Washington.
