Healthiest Sides for Your Picnic Potluck

©2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

2012, Television Food Network, G.P. All Rights Reserved.

Summer cookouts might seem like a diet disaster, but they don’t need to be. Round out the usual burgers and hot dogs with these healthy sides and you’ll end up with a meal you feel good about. To make the healthiest plate, try to follow the guidelines of making half your plate veggies, a quarter starchy foods (in cookout speak, this would be stuff like the corn, potato salad or hot dog bun) and a quarter protein (the hot dog, small burger, etc.). As for what those healthy options should be, here are some ideas.

Bean Salad: Bean salads are great. They’re easy to assemble and they give you a major dose of protein and fiber, which helps you feel full.

Fruit: You need some fruit at your cookout! You can easily skewer some tropical fruits, like pineapple and mango, for a heavenly side or make fruit salad.

Something green: You need something green on the plate to feel virtuous. Try one of these:

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