Many kids gravitate towards fast food options as their favorite meals, and for lots of children burgers and fries are hard to beat. Whilst you may not love the idea of your children eating this meal on repeat, if you’re making it at home there are lots of ways to reduce the calories, fat, and salt and ensure the meal delivers some nutritional benefits, whilst still being super tasty. Check out these tips on how to create a healthier burger and fries.
The Burger
Make your own burger patties, using a mix of five to ten percent fat minced with some canned beans and onions. Fry the onions in a little oil, add whichever seasonings you wish, then mash the beans with a fork before adding to the pan. Add the meat, fry until cooked through, and then use an egg and some flour to bind the patties together. Making the burgers from scratch gives you control over the ingredients, and you can bulk out some of the higher-fat mince with super healthy beans whilst losing none of the flavor.
Insist on a Green Side
Whether it’s a side of peas, a salad, or even some steamed broccoli, make a point of serving your homemade burger and fries with some sort of vegetable. Between the beans in the burgers and this vegetable portion, this helps to make the meal more nutritionally balanced.
Use an Air Fryer
Cooking the fries in an air fryer, as opposed to a traditional deep fat fryer, will significantly reduce the calorie content of the fries, whilst losing none of the taste. You can also add some seasonings other than salt, such as smoked paprika, oregano, or rosemary, to add more flavor whilst keeping the salt content low.