cook out ideas! help!

I need an idea of something low-calorie to make and bring to a cook out (the meat is already provided as well as chips, dip I think). I'm personally in recovery for an ED (if you have read my profile at this point) and trying to gain weight  but a couple of my friends are overweight and have been really trying to eat healthy/diet. For me it's basically a case of just getting enough calories which I can do easily there so I would like to bring something low-calorie that everyone can enjoy. I'm away from home in college so I don't have access to a lot of supplies (so nothing too fancy, please!) but does anyone have any recipe ideas of something to bring? It would also be nice if I, the girl who was once so scared of food, actually made something :)

 

Many thanks!

My favorite dish to bring to a picnic, cookout or covered dish event

Calico Bean Salad

I sometimes use black eye peas instead of the chickpeas for an even prettier looking dish.

how about a fresh fruit salad or a veggie tray?

 

I agree with the fresh fruit.  I often make big trays of melon, pineapple, grapes and berries.  Add some skewers and let people make their own fruit kabobs. 

Maybe you could try a lo cal dessert, since usually bbq's are full of brownies and cupcakes and such.  Check the recipe area for recipes. 

My favorite is the fresh fruit too. All you have to do is cut it up and people eat it all up. I like to take fresh pineapple or a watermelon.

Or maybe you could find a cole slaw recipe that has more of a vinegar base than a mayo one?

I make a potato salad that is pretty low in calories. I use cream cheese and sour cream in place of the mayonnaise and only use the whites of eggs. I put in a bit of curry powder to spice it up. The last batch I made had around 1.1 cal/gram.

 

Scott

If you really want to show off and have it be pretty healthy bring fruit salsa. It's really easy to make and looks amazing with all the colors in a glass bowl. All you have to do is cut up pineapple,strawberries, apples (red & green), mango, cantalope, grapes, and any other fruit you love into ity bity pieces. Mix it all together, add a splash of lime juice, and a bit of splenda(to taste). Then you're done! High in Health factor--Low in Calories. I usually serve it with low fat graham crackers. Yum!

Original Post by janabm81:

If you really want to show off and have it be pretty healthy bring fruit salsa. It's really easy to make and looks amazing with all the colors in a glass bowl. All you have to do is cut up pineapple,strawberries, apples (red & green), mango, cantalope, grapes, and any other fruit you love into ity bity pieces. Mix it all together, add a splash of lime juice, and a bit of splenda(to taste). Then you're done! High in Health factor--Low in Calories. I usually serve it with low fat graham crackers. Yum!

 fresh cilantro would be good in this too. And if it's a crowd that likes spicy things add a little cumin and cayenne pepper. My mango salsa has those things in it and it's delicious w/grilled fish or chicken :)

ooops double posted sry!

well I don't know how low calorie it is, but I love chopping up potatoes, onions, garlic, and mushrooms, adding a tiny bit of margarine or olive oil, wrap it all up in aluminum foil and grill it to hell!!!!! It is so good and seems like an alternative to fruit salad and stuff (not sure if you wanted more ideas.)

Take some lowfat cream cheese (not the non-fat, that stuff is nasty) and mix in one packet of dry italian dressing mix. Serve it as a spread with cucumber slices and celery sticks.

You can also take this mixture, spread on whole wheat rolls, bread, or crackers and top with cucumber slices. If you use small whole grain buns make cucumber sandwiches out of it.

It's different and delicious.

I got this online of course use healther options. Light mayo instead of regular so on so forth.

 

:-)

 

CUCUMBER SANDWICHES

 

 

1 lg. cucumber, cleaned but not peeled
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 green onions, chopped
Mayonnaise as needed
Celery salt
Garlic powder
Paprika, if desired
Sandwich bread, white or other

 

Shred the cucumber and allow to drain over a paper towel until most of the liquid is gone. Mix the cream cheese and mayonnaise until smooth and spreadable. Stir in chopped onions and add garlic powder and celery salt as desired. Add drained cucumber, stir.

May be spread on open faced sandwiches and topped with paprika or other garnishes or served between slices of sandwich bread cut into small, crust less decorative shapes.

my favorites are grilled veggies, particularly grilled artichokes.  Parboil the artichokes for 10 minutes, slice them in half and grill them,  brushing them with a mix of ovoo and fresh lemon juice.  yumm