A Low Fat Fourth of July Menu

I love the Fourth of July. I may be a Brit, but I celebrate America's Independence Day along with everybody else. My American-born children sport their Old Navy flag t-shirts with pride. They enjoy eating hot dogs, followed by patriotic cupcakes; then they wait impatiently for dusk to fall and the fireworks to begin.

Now I hate to be a party pooper, but the problem with the Fourth of July is the sheer volume of fattening foods: mounds of potato salad, juicy burgers topped with goodness-knows-what, dense and fudgy brownies, scoops of ice cream, and so on. But if you're looking to lighten the load, there are many ways to reduce the calories and fat in many of these traditional Fourth of July foods. Here are some great low-fat options.

If you plan to grill:

• How to Make Low Fat Burgers
• Southwestern Burgers
• Spicy Burgers With Yogurt Dressing
• Turkey Burgers
• Barbecued Pork Chops
• Marinated Chicken Kebabs
• Lemon Herb Fish Kebabs

Low Fat Condiments and Side Salads:

• Mango Tomato Salsa
• Low Fat Coleslaw
• Corn, Bean and Tomato Salad
• Macaroni Salad
• Potato Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Three Bean Salad
• Couscous Salad

Low-Fat Desserts

• Summer Cheesecake
• Key Lime Bars
• Brownies
• Tropical Fruit Salad
• Balsamic Strawberries
• Grilled Nectarines With Brown Sugar and Sour Cream
• Blueberry Yogurt Popsicles