With BBQs, holidays, and parties, it's hard to not indulge in delicious summer foods. Luckily, Food & Lifestyle Expert, Parker Wallace has the skinny on how to slim down some of your favorite summer dishes. From macaroni salads to burgers and baked goods, she's got some great substitutions that are tasty, nutritious, and won't leave you feeling deprived.
One of Wallace's secret weapons is farro, a high-fiber grain that is the perfect swap for the traditional macaroni pasta salad we find ourselves eating all summer long. For an added benefit, cook the farro in a bone broth to get some natural collagens and proteins. Top the dish off with some veggies and a little dressing, and you've got yourself a hearty, healthy dish!
Another crowd favorite found at every summer gathering is hamburgers. While Wallace has no problem with red meat, she suggests swapping it out with a leaner option like fresh pork tenderloin. Put the patties on slider buns or use a cooked Portobello mushroom as the "bun" for a low-carb alternative.
Wallace's last piece of advice is to sneak in some added protein to baked goods whenever possible. Simply add a scoop of protein powder to your cookie, muffin, or pancake recipe and suddenly that carb-filled treat turns into a protein powerhouse. The powder will also allow you to cut out the added sugar, keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
Check out the Mediterranean Farro Salad and Buffalo Shredded Pork Tenderloin recipes below:
Mediterranean Farro Salad
Ingredients for the Farro:
3 cups Chicken Bone Broth
1 cup Farro (rinsed)
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Salt
Instructions:
Bring bone broth to a simmer, add salt, olive oil and farro. Simmer covered for 20-30 minutes, depending on how soft you’d like the farro. Drain and set aside.
Ingredients to top the salad:
1 cup Chopped English Cucumber
1 cup Cherry Tomatoes halved
¼ cup Red Onion diced
1 cup Chickpeas tossed with some cumin
Fresh Parsley and Dill
Feta Cheese (optional)
Salad Instructions:
Fold salad ingredients into farro and top with dressing.
Dressing Ingredients:
2 tbps red wine vinegar
2 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice (from ½ medium lemon)
1 clove garlic, minced
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
½ cup olive oil
1 oz Greek sheep’s milk feta cheese, crumbled (optional)
Dressing Instructions:
Put dressing ingredients in a mason jar and shake to combine. Pour over salad.
Buffalo Shredded Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients:
1 medium pork tenderloin or 2 small tenderloins
1 jar/bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce
½ stick of unsalted butter
1 sweet onion chopped
1 tbsp garlic powder
Instructions:
Add ingredients into a slow cooker and put on low for 8 hours
Shred pork and spoon onto slider buns, adding your favorite toppings, like pickles, blue cheese and ranch dressing
For more healthy food swaps and recipes, you can visit Parker's website here.
