Celebrate July 4th with an original Gardenburger on the grill

Ready for the grill! [Photo: Michelle Vint]

This July 4th, add some flair to your barbeque with a delicious, healthy original Gardenburger. Laden with vegetables, as the name suggests, the original Gardenburger tastes like the epitome of summertime. Mushrooms, onions, brown rice, rolled oats, bulgur, cheese, and seasoning combine with other tasty ingredients for a unique hamburger alternative. One pattie will run you just 100 calories, 3 grams of fat, 5 grams of protein, and 5 grams of fiber.

The original Gardenburger is easy to cook on the grill, requiring only a minimal amount of time to be fully cooked. It's important to watch the pattie carefully while cooking to make sure it doesn't burn. Non-stick cooking spray applied to the grill before cooking can help prevent the pattie from crumbling.

Ideas and tips for a July 4th barbeque with Gardenburger:

* Use a whole wheat hamburger bun for extra taste and health benefits. Place the bun face-down on the grill for the last 1 - 2 minutes of cooking time to make it slightly toasted.

* Add to the summer feeling by slicing a pineapple and tossing it on the grill. Top the Gardenburger with the grilled pineapple for a tropical taste.

* Experiment with grilling other veggies for the Gardenburger, like onion and tomato. Grill slices of onion or cut a tomato in half and grill shell-side down. Watch them carefully to make sure they don't get overdone.

* Make the original Gardenburger into a cheeseburger by topping the patties with sliced or grated cheese. Leave the patties on the barbeque to allow the cheese to melt.

Visit Gardenburger online at Gardenburger.com!