Low Fat Burgers - Plus Cheese, Please!

Why not add the cheese on your burger? We can eat low fat versions and still enjoy them!

Cheeseburgers are an American tradition. We serve them at barbecues and picnics. We eat them at fast food restaurants, and we serve them from our grill in the backyard. We devour them, and happily. Health professionals frown at us. "They have too much fat content" our nutritionist tells us. "Bad for the heart", our cardiologist says. Should we just eliminate them from our diet? "It's propaganda!" We yell. Take our ice cream, our donuts, but don't take away our cheeseburgers. Finally, we ask the feared question, "do we have to eliminate cheeseburgers from our diet forever?" That is a dramatic option, but let's not be hasty. We have another option. If we can learn how to cook low fat, we can still have our favorite burger!

One way is to buy lean beef. To make it leaner than that, mix ground turkey with it.

Grilling the burger helps drain the fat off rather than pan frying, not to mention helping the taste.

We can still have cheese on on our burgers! The key is buying a low fat cheese. Many low fat cheese options are available. Mozzarella is known for this.

Finally, as with most things, moderation is the key. Cheese is an important part of getting enough calcium in our diets. Calcium keeps our bones and teeth healthy.

Here are two delicious recipes you can make in the comfort of your home or backyard, that are joyfully low in fat. Vegans will appreciate the second one.

Low Fat Cheeseburgers

One pound lean ground chuck. The leaner the meat is the less fat there is. You can also mix a half pound ground chuck with a half pound of ground turkey for even less fat intake.

One egg white

2 pieces of low fat dried out bread. Whole wheat is a good choice. Just leave the bread out for a day and it will be nicely dried the next day.

1/4 cup A-1 sauce. Worcestershire is also an option but A-1 adds more flavor. The sauce also adds moisture to your meat.

Seasoning Salt

One piece low fat cheese

1/2 cup onion (optional)

In large bowl put all of your ground chuck or half and half ground chuck and turkey. Add crumbled up bread, A-1, egg white and 2-3 shakes of Seasoning Salt. If you are also watching your sodium intake you can use Mrs. Dash instead.

Mix ingredients well and put into patties. One pound of meat will make about 5-6 patties depending on the size you like. Grilling will drain more fat from the burgers and give them that delectable smoky flavor but you can also pan fry these with low fat cooking spray. When cooking your burgers do not press down on it and turn it over once. This will make sure you end up with a juicy burger. When burger is almost done, add cheese. Enjoy!

Vegetarian Burger

3 leafs Romaine lettuce

1/2-cup alfalfa sprouts

One slice tomato

One slice Low Fat American Cheese (Optional)

4 -5 slices cucumber

2 slices whole wheat bread or a whole wheat bun

One tablespoon low fat mayonnaise

One piece low fat cheese

Salt and Pepper

On your bread or bun, put romaine lettuce, alfalfa sprouts, tomato and then cucumber slices. Add your cheese. On top bun put your mayonnaise. Add salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy!