Smart Choices for a 4th of July Picnic

Red, white and blue foods aren't just patriotic, they confer health benefits. Plants get their colors from phytochemicals, which are health-promoting compounds. Red foods are filled with skin-protecting lycopene, some white foods have antibacterial allicin and blues are rich in circulation-enhancing anthocyanins.

Here are some foods featuring these colors to celebrate the 4th in good health.

Warm Sausage and Red Potato Salad: Swap in red potatoes as a healthy alternative to a classic potato salad.

Maple Berry Parfait: Layers of lowfat ricotta and berries make this into a beautiful breakfast or dessert (pictured above).

Mixed Berries with Limoncello: Fresh herbs and limoncello add a special twist to an eye-catching bowl of mixed berries.

Watermelon and Tomato Salad: Use red tomatoes and watermelon to capture the red, white and blue theme.

Whole Grilled Bluefish: There aren't too many blue fruits and vegetables, so cheat the color with heart-healthy bluefish.

Roasted Red Pepper Dip: Step aside, hummus. This pepper dip has lots of flavor and a bright color.

Jicama Slaw: Crunchy white jicama is a special alternative to traditional cabbage slaw.

Cauliflower Steaks with Beans and Tomatoes: This recipe calls for roasting the cauliflower steaks, but you can try grilling them, too.

Grilled Peaches: These make a super simple and sweet healthy dessert.

Red and White Sangria Pops: A grown up dessert with lots of fruit!

Next Up

Meatless Monday: Grilled Eggplant and Goat Cheese Salad

Ready in just about twenty minutes, Giada’s grilled eggplant and goat cheese salad is a must-try.

Meatless Monday: Grilled Portobello Mushrooms with Balsamic

Not only do mushrooms have an awesome umami flavor, they’re low in calories and are a good source of fiber and nutrients. For Alex Guarnaschelli’s grilled portobello mushrooms with balsamic, you don’t even need burger buns.

Meatless Monday: Quick Caprese Sandwich

Go for a caprese sandwich when it's too hot to turn on the oven. Delicious and requiring hardly any thought or effort, it’s a Meatless Monday recipe you’ll be thankful to have on-hand.

Summer Fest: 4 Beet Salad Best Bets

Red or gold, beets are rich in folates, potassium and vitamins niacin, pantothenic acid and pyridoxine.

On TV

Yum and Yummer

7:30am | 6:30c

Yum and Yummer

8:30am | 7:30c
9am | 8c
9:30am | 8:30c

Carnival Eats

2:30pm | 1:30c

Carnival Eats

3:30pm | 2:30c

Carnival Eats

4:30pm | 3:30c

Unique Sweets

5:30pm | 4:30c

Unique Sweets

6:30pm | 5:30c
7pm | 6c
On Tonight
On Tonight
8pm | 7c
9pm | 8c
10pm | 9c
11pm | 10c
12am | 11c
1am | 12c
2am | 1c
3am | 2c
What's Hot

The Best Thing I Ever Ate

Sundays 10|9c

So Much Pretty Food Here