5 Surprising Healthy Foods You Can Throw On The Grill

Celebrating the Fourth of July is often associated with unhealthy snacks, sandwiches and deep fried anything. So how do grillers find an alternative to this caloric ritual? Throw a few nontraditional options in the mix.
We've gathered up 10 surprisingly healthy foods you can grill up this holiday weekend, effectively helping you avoid the grease and guilt that comes with overindulging while you salute the red, white and blue. From strawberries to asparagus, you may just find your new favorite summer dish -- no heartburn required. Take a look at the suggestions below, eat up, then sit back and enjoy the pop of the fireworks.

1.Lettuce

We typically think of salad as the cold counterpart to a warm, grilled meal, but turns out that lettuce can go right on the grates with the rest of your dinner. Slice romaine hearts in half and drizzle with olive oil, suggests registered dietician Heather Bauer, founder of Bestowed.com. Then sprinkle salt and pepper over the lettuce and drizzle vinegar on all sides. "Grill the romaine until it's slightly charred and flip them over for about three minutes," she says.
With very few calories per serving, romaine is a rich source of vitamins A, K and C.

2.Watermelon

Grilling up watermelon slices can add a smoky flavor that intensifies the sweetness of this summer staple, Bauer says. She recommends cutting the fruit into slices, sprinkling on some salt and adding to the grill.
Watermelon is a great source of the antioxidant lycopene, which gives the fruit its signature color (it's also found in red tomatoes). Research has identified lycopene as a possible fighter against heart disease, Bauer explains, and there's also evidence that lycopene could prevent certain kinds of cancer, according to Physicians Committee.

3.Pizza

Registered dietician Dawn Jackson Blatner, author of The Flexitarian Diet, recommends her personal "Farmer's Market Pizza" recipe for the grill.
Here's how to make it: start off with whole wheat pizza dough purchased from the store or local pizza shop. Roll it out with a rolling pin on a nonstick baking mat and then put the raw dough directly on the grill -- "Make sure [the] grill is hot otherwise the dough will stick," she cautions --until it comes off easily and has grill marks. Then take it off the grill with tongs, add toppings to the grilled side and put it back on the other side to cook.
Possible toppings include any leafy greens (like arugula, kale, watercress or even dandelion greens from your backyard), shaved asparagus, thin zucchini or yellow squash, basil, sliced tomatoes and a little bit of ricotta or parmesan cheese -- let the farmer's market guide you.

4.Mango

Here's a healthy barbecue twist: instead of traditional toppings, grill up a mango to top your burger, suggests Blatner.
Mangoes are a real superfruit, with tons of vitamins and minerals, she says. One sliced-up cup is a solid source of dietary fiber, vitamin B6 and vitamins A and C.

5.Grapes


Throwing some skewers on the grill? Consider adding grapes between pieces of chicken or shrimp, Blatner recommends. Grapes have no fat or cholesterol and "virtually no sodium," she says. Plus they pack a powerful punch of vitamins C and K.