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Hosting a summer bash? Make cookout classics with better-for-you ingredients to create a spread full of slimmed-down favorites.

* Burgers. Fatty cuts of meat are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. Leaner alternatives -- 90 percent to 95 percent lean ground beef, chicken or turkey breast, bison and fish -- make equally satisfying burgers. Jazz up lower-fat meats with herbs and spices, and add moisture to the patties with chopped onion and mushrooms or a tangy sauce.

Consider low-fat cheese or mayo. Then, don't forget to pile on the fresh vegetables like ripe tomatoes, onion, spinach, lettuce and cucumbers.

* Grilled Meats. Grilling is one of the lightest ways to cook, but to keep it that way, you want to pick leaner meats. Here are some healthy options for the grill:

Poultry: Skinless, white-meat chicken or turkey; ground turkey breast.

Beef: Flank steak, top loin, sirloin, porterhouse, T-bone steak and tenderloin; 90 percent lean ground beef

Pork: Pork chops or tenderloin

Lamb: Look for the word "loin"

* Pasta salad. First off, cut the mayo. A typical 1âÑ2 cup serving of classic macaroni salad contains 310 calories, about two-thirds of which come from fat. Fat isn't the enemy, but keep it to about one tablespoon of oil or two tablespoons of low-fat mayo or dressing per serving. Use whole-wheat pasta to increase fiber and lower overall calories, and load up on veggies, like tomatoes, onions, celery, bell peppers and scallions.

* Potato salad. Swap out some or all of the mayo for a flavorful vinaigrette, pesto sauce, sundried tomatoes, Dijon mustard or lots of fresh herbs. If you favor the traditional creamy texture, a combo of mayonnaise and low-fat yogurt has flavor, with much less fat.

Once you've covered the essentials, fill your table with fresh salads made from farmers-market finds.

* Fruit desserts. Finish your party with a dessert that's full of in-season fruit. Serve with frozen yogurt or syrup.

-- Scripps Howard News Service

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