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June: Healthy Dads and Grads MenusPlan Your Own Festivities for these Early Summer Celebrations
If you're trying to keep a Father's Day or graduation party simple and light, try one of these at-home ideas that are easy to stage and healthy for all guests.
Keeping it Light and EasyIn June, many people celebrate Father's Day as well as student graduations. Quite a few options for festivities are out there: restaurant brunches, lunches, dinners, and private parties; trips to amusement parks or the beach; or even elaborate weekend fishing/theme trips. But if you are trying to keep the celebration simple and light, planning one of these fun parties at your own home or the house of a friend or family member can prove to be just as memorable. 1. Plan a BrunchDepending on the weather, you can have an indoor or outdoor brunch for Father's Day, a graduation party, or a combination of the two. The great thing about this plan is the ability to avoid the usual restaurant crowds (Father's Day particularly.) Plan an outdoor brunch with easy fold-up chairs, tables, disposable tableware (use biodegradeable paper products as much as possible), and umbrellas/ netted gazebos/ tarps for shade and bug protection. Borrow larger outdoor items from family and friends if need be. Decorate with easy paper signs and streamers. Bulk quantities of helium balloons are available at party stores for a reasonable fee. Serve fun, light breakfast foods such as fresh fruits, reduced-cholesterol eggs (Egg Beaters) with onions and peppers, sauteed sweet potatoes, turkey bacon, turkey sausages, and reduced-fat pastries. Provide tea, coffee, ice water, and orange juice, and try mixing things up with bloody marys or mimosas (both give a healthy dose of juice.) **This plan can easily be adjusted for indoors if bad weather prevails. 2. Plan a BarbequeUse the same preparations as the brunch plan, but with an afternoon/evening schedule. This is a good time to utilize fun lighting/ candles and maybe try some tiki torches, which illuminate as well as keep bugs at bay. Have plenty of cool beverages on ice or tap. Try lower-carb soft drinks and beer if you're trying to keep it light. Serve grilled turkey hot dogs, turkey burgers, chicken, and/or different varieties of fish (shrimp, scallops, tuna, etc.) Grill fresh vegetables as a side dish, or marinate the fish and veggies in teriyaki sauce and skewer them to make healthy kabobs. Add marinated pineapple chunks. ***If you have an indoor grill or your outdoor grill is covered from the elements, you can easily bring this party indoors. 3. Plan a Beach PartyIf you live near a shoreline (the ocean, a lakefront, a riverfront, or a pond), or you just want to feel like you do, have an outdoor party with a beach theme. This is another great time for the tiki torches. Serve tropical mixed fruit drinks (alcohol optional), Corona beers, seafood dip with crackers and veggies, and fresh seafood (lobsters, crabs, scallops, shrimp, salmon, etc.) Check out local fish markets for the best prices, or relish the catches of family and friends. ****Again, this idea can be done both indoors or outside, depending on the weather, and any of these themes--- brunch, barbeque, or beach party--- can also be adapted for a local park that has cooking/grilling equipment and picnic tables for very little expense or for free.
The copyright of the article June: Healthy Dads and Grads Menus in Women’s Health is owned by Jennifer Gerics. Permission to republish June: Healthy Dads and Grads Menus in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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