Celebrate Summer with Healthy Grilling Recipes

Summer is officially in full swing and you may be soaking in the sunshine with your friends and family more, as social gatherings increase. Hannah Hoffman, PHP Wellness Coordinator, shares a few of her favorite healthy grilling recipes to ensure you are firing up the grill in a healthy and nutritious way. 

Grilled Taco Pizza 

Once you've tried pizza on the grill, you'll find it hard to go back to the oven. 

Ingredients:

• 1lb lean ground beef 
• 1 can (15 oz) pinto beans, rinsed 
• 1 ½ teaspoon chili powder 
• 1 ½ teaspoon ground cumin 
• ¼ teaspoon salt 
• ¾ cup fresh salsa or pico de gallo 
• 1 pound whole-wheat pizza dough 
• 1 cup shredded Mexican-blend cheese 
• ¼ cup sour cream 
• 2 tablespoons lime juice 
• 2 cups shredded romaine lettuce 
• Fresh cilantro & sliced pickled jalapenos for garnish 

Instructions:

1. Preheat grill to medium-high 
    
2. Cook beef in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat, until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in beans, chili powder, cumin, and salt. Remove from heat and stir in ½ cup salsa (or pico de gallo). Transfer to a medium bowl. 
    
3. Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a 12-inch oval.
    
4. Grill the dough until puffed and lightly browned, 1 to 3 minutes. Turn it over. Spread the beef mixture on the crust and sprinkle with cheese. Grill until the cheese is melted and the crust is lightly browned on the bottom, 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer to a cutting board.
    
5. Mix sour cream and lime juice. Top the pizza with lettuce, the remaining ¼ cup salsa (or pico de gallo) and the sour cream mixture. Garnish with cilantro and jalapenos, if desired. 

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1 slice 
Serves: 5 

Per serving: 511 calories; 22.4 g total fat; 8.4 g saturated fat; 86 mg cholesterol; 728 mg sodium. 548 mg potassium; 48.4 g carbohydrates; 4.9 g fiber; 5 g sugar; 32.9 g protein; 2206 IU vitamin a iu; 4 mg vitamin c; 35 mcg folate; 206 mg calcium; 3 mg iron; 45 mg magnesium 

Grilled Turkey Burgers  

Set aside the red meat and indulge in these extra juicy and delicious grilled turkey burgers.  

Ingredients:

• ½ cup finely shredded carrot
• ¼ cup thinly sliced green onions 
• 2 tablespoons fine dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons fat-free milk 
• ¼ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, crushed 
• ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 12 oz. uncooked ground turkey or chicken breast
• ¼ cup Dijon mustard
• ½ teaspoon curry powder
• 4 whole-wheat hamburger buns
• Lettuce leaves (optional)
• Sliced tomato (optional) 

Instructions:

1. In a medium bowl stir together carrot, green onions, bread crumbs, milk, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and pepper. Add ground turkey; mix well. Form the turkey mixture into four 1/2-inch-thick patties.
    
2. Place patties on the greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium coals. Grill for 11 to 13 minutes or until patties are done (165 degrees Fahrenheit), turning once halfway through grilling time.
    
3. Meanwhile, while burgers are cooking, in a small bowl stir together mustard and curry powder. Spread buns with mustard mixture. Top with burgers and, if desired, lettuce and tomato. 

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: 1 burger with bun
Serves: 4 

Per serving: 287 calories; 11 g total fat; 3 g saturated fat; 68 mg cholesterol; 470 mg sodium. 26 g carbohydrates; 3 g fiber; 21 g protein 

Cherry Cobbler 

Top off your meal with this easy cherry cobbler dessert.  

Ingredients:

• 4 cups frozen pitted dark sweet cherries thawed and well drained
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ½ cup old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup white whole-wheat flour
• ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened 

Instructions:

1. Preheat grill to medium (350-400 degrees F). Coat a 9-inch cast-iron skillet with cooking spray.
    
2. Combine cherries, granulated sugar and lemon juice in a large bowl; toss well to coat. Transfer to the prepared pan.
    
3. Combine oats, flour, brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add butter; stir until the mixture is thoroughly combined and holds together loosely.
    
4. Sprinkle the oat mixture over the cherry mixture. Cover the pan with foil. Grill, with grill lid closed, for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue grilling, with the lid closed, until the cobbler is bubbly and golden, about 10 more minutes. Remove from grill and let stand for 10 minutes before serving. 

Nutrition Information:

Serving size: about 1/3 cup
Serves: 10 

Per serving: 162 calories; 5 g total fat; 2.9 g saturated fat; 12 mg cholesterol; 1 mg sodium. 134 mg potassium; 29.1 g carbohydrates; 2.2 g fiber; 21 g sugar; 2 g protein; 244 IU vitamin a iu; 1 mg vitamin c; 5 mcg folate; 11 mg calcium; 1 mg iron; 10 mg magnesium; 10 g added sugar 

Want more healthy recipes? PHP members have access to an online library of wellness resources including Eating Well Recipes. 

Login to your Member Account at phpni.com and follow this path: 

Wellness Tools > Get PHP Fit! > Wellness Resources > Eating Well Recipes 

Photos and recipes courtesy of EatingWell.com.