Healthy Hamburger

As I ate my healthy hamburger tonight, I thought about what a difference the small choices can make. Here's my guide to getting the most nutrition out of your burger.

Beef: Choose the leanest meat you can. I bought beef that is 96% fat-free, which is the best there was. It's more pricey, but worth it. And the burger won't shrink as much, either, without all that extra fat. The best way to cook it is to grill or broil it. Pan cooking keeps more of the fat on your patty.
Buns: Whole wheat! I know they can be hard to find, but why, oh why, do people eat white bread?? Choose buns that aren't oversized, either, since this will add extra calories that are so easy to avoid.
Cheese: If you must have it (and I must), buy fat-free.
Bacon: Again, if you must, go with turkey bacon or, better yet, skip it!
Mayo or Miracle Whip: Lowfat (good), fat-free (better), or skip it (best).
Ketchup & Mustard: They don't add enough of anything to need to avoid them, thank goodness!
Pickles: Unless you're watching your sodium intake, there's no problem with them.
Tomatoes, Onions, Lettuce, & Green Chile (if you're New Mexican!): The more the better! Again, why would anyone eat a burger without any veggies?

And if you're at a barbecue or hosting one, here are some other tips:
Hot dogs: No one would argue that these aren't very nutritious. If you must, choose a turkey hotdog or one that is lowfat. Neither taste bad.
Chips: Unless they are baked, skip them.
I would recommend filling up on healthy items, such as fruits & salads. Of course, you can always save room for a little dessert. If you follow these tips, eating dessert should not be a problem. Happy grilling!