Pimp My Health: With Burgers

 5 Healthy Twists For Hamburgers

Who doesn’t like a big, juicy hamburger from time to time? I mean, the smell. And the melted cheese. And the flavor. Even if you’re a vegetarian, meatless burgers can be really delicious too. But amongst all of this yumminess, hamburgers have the potential to put a serious crimp in your diet. So this week on Pimp My Health, we’re going to pimp your burger. We did a little digging and found five simple ways that you can make your burger better and healthier–without losing all of that juicy goodness. Dig in! You can thank us when you’re done.

 

Choose Your Bun Carefully

White bread is just the pits for our health, so when pairing your burger with a bun, opt for one that is whole-grain instead. Whole grains are heart healthy, naturally low in fat and a good source of complex carbs (the ones that give us more sustained energy versus quickly converting to sugar like white breads do).

Load Up On Veggies

 Think outside the bun when it comes to toppings. Sure, the traditional lettuce, tomato and onions are great, but how about portabella mushrooms, green peppers, banana peppers, slices of cooked eggplant, fresh avocado or spinach? Yum!

 

Go For Turkey

Ounce for ounce, ground turkey is healthier than ground beef. Four ounces of turkey have 120 calories versus 140 in beef, 1.5 grams of fat versus 4.5 grams in beef and 55 grams of cholesterol versus 65 in beef. Plus, you probably won't even notice the difference.

Here is the recipe for a delish pesto and sun-dried tomato turkey burger to try.

Make A Cherry Burger

That's right! Adding dried or fresh cherries inside your patties will make them tastier, juicier and healthier. It also reduces fat and increases antioxidants in your burger. Other fruits mixed in are also good--try granny smith apples. You can also top your burger with fruits like a mango chutney or fresh papaya. Yum!

Try A Bean Burger

Not only does this bean burger have a surprising crunch and a spicy guacamole topping, but it only has 15 grams of fat! It also has almost half of your daily required iron, and is plenty high in fiber and other nutrients.