How hard is it to be at a party where everyone is eating hamburgers and hot dogs and you are eating salad? Too hard!! The next time you have to go to one of these get-togethers, bring your own burger – a portobello mushroom burger. Take the stem off the mushroom. Marinate it in a combo of olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar and have the grill master give it about 5 minutes on each side. Make up an aoli of light mayo, non-fat yogurt, garlic powder and tabasco. Have some arugula to top it. Place the mushroom, aoli and arugula along with the mushroom on a sandwich round. You don’t need to feel deprived. This combo is really good!

As side dishes to the burger, I microwaved baking potatoes and then sprayed them with olive oil spray. They were finished on the grill while the mushroom was cooking. The salad consisted of pre-washed arugula, roasted beets and fat-free Good Seasons Italian dressing. Golden beets are especially delicious when roasted.

No beef? No problem. It’s easy to stay healthy with a portobello mushroom burger.

Mushroom burger, grilled baked potato and arugula salad with roasted golden beets