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Enjoy a 183-calorie burger at your next barbecue

What better time is there than summer for backyard barbecues and meals outside with friends and family? But beware: Not all classic cookout fare is as nutritious as it is delicious.

So, next time you have a hankering to throw something on the grill, try this recipe from Preston Maring, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist at our Oakland Medical Center. And find more ideas on our farmers market recipe website.

A Healthier Burger
Serves 6
Ingredients:

• 1½ pounds ground turkey or beef (or a mixture of both)
• 10 ounces baby spinach leaves
• zest of one lemon
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ tsp. salt
• ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Fire up the grill. Sauté the spinach in olive oil until it wilts. In a large bowl, mix the turkey or beef, spinach, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper. You can make healthier quarter pounders using a half-cup measuring cup to get an equal amount per burger and flattening them on waxed paper. Grill the burgers until done. Serve them on whole-grain buns.

Nutrition Information Per Serving (does not include bun or additional toppings):
Calories: 183
Fat: 10 g
Saturated fat: 3 g
Trans fat: 0 g
Cholesterol: 90 mg
Carbohydrate: 2 g
Fiber: 1 g
Sodium: 338 mg
Protein: 21 g

Learn more about good nutrition: Check out our healthy eating center.

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