Wait! Don’t cut burgers out of your diet just yet! Most find these sometimes messy sandwiches to be bad for you, but not always. A typical burger starts with high-fat ground beef and is then dressed with toppings that push the fat meter even higher. But if you keep the portions controlled and use lean beef, they can be part of a healthy diet.

Not the same if it’s not the real thing? Well, you can cut down on the fat and still have a tasty burger. Here’s how…

• choose lean beef, poultry, even bison or lean turkey (lean/extra lean beef is rich in essential nutrients, and low is saturated fats)
• if you don’t eat meat, try a veggie burgers or a marinated portobello mushroom cap
• cook with a method that lets some of the fat escape (such as grilling or broiling)
• cooking the burgers until they're well-done
• outdoor grilling is one of the best methods for searing juicy flavor into a lean burger
• leaner meats require a lower cooking temperature for even browning and to lower risk from carcinogens
• find creative ways to add moisture without extra calories (add egg white & bread crumbs and top it off with low-fat mayo, mustard, fat-free cheese, veggies, salsa)

Forget the bacon, add a whole grain bun - and voila! A burger without all the fat, so you can enjoy a BBQ just as good as the rest of them. Now, if you can just stay away from the soda and fries! Try a salad as a side dish.