Father’s Day Traditions

By Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD

My dad’s birthday and my stepmother’s birthday both happen to fall in the same week as Father’s Day, so our family tradition has always been to have one big party to celebrate.  For the past few years, my husband and I have been the ones to host, which means a sit-down dinner for 20-plus relatives.  No small task, especially considering that I’m not a particularly skilled cook (my not-so-secret confession…!).

The solution:  Make it a fiesta with a build-your-own fajita bar, chips and guacamole, and sangria.  And of course, as a registered dietitian, my goal is to make it tasty and keep it (mostly) nutritious.

We serve no-sugar-added sangria, heart-smart chipotle black bean chips (high in fiber and protein, and tastier than they might sound!) with homemade guacamole, and we use La Tortilla Factory’s Smart & Delicious High Fiber, Low Carb tortillas, and this year we’ll also use La Tortilla Factory’s new Smart & Delicious Soft Wrap Minis to make soft tacos.

This is where the ‘easy’ factor comes in:  We grill earlier in the day, so come party time we just put out platters of sliced grilled chicken breast, grilled shrimp, grilled veggies (usually onions and peppers), baby spinach, diced tomatoes, low-fat plain Greek yogurt (instead of sour cream), shredded 2% cheese, and chopped cilantro, and our guests build their own tacos, fajitas, or taco salads.

The best part:  We’re able to spend time catching up with family, not stuck in the kitchen all evening prepping and cooking.  Plus there’s the added bonus of knowing that we’re serving a delicious dinner that’s also rich in fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats.  Now that’s worth celebrating.

Does your family have a fun Father’s Day tradition? Please share!