Are you ready to celebrate the Fourth of July a week from today? I plan on running a 5K to start the day off and then refuel later with a juicy Jennie-O turkey burger.  Turkey burgers are typically lower in fat than beef burgers, but that doesn’t mean they have to be any less flavorful. 

Tips for grilling the juiciest turkey burger ever:

• Don’t overwork meat, which can make it dense and tough
• Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil or sautéed onions to ground turkey for a juicier burger
• Do not push down on the burgers with your spatula (you’ll lose the juices!)
• Allow burgers to rest a few minutes before serving to let juices redistribute 

If you buy the already formed frozen burgers, here are some tips I use to keep the burger juicy:

• Pan-fry and keep a lid over the pan
• Don’t push down on the burger
• Monitor temperature of the burger so you don’t overcook

It is really important to  make sure to cook turkey burgers to 165 degrees. The best way to do this is with an instant read thermometer or a fancy kitchen thermometer that connects via bluetooth to your iPhone. 

I can’t even begin to tell you how cool this Mini Kitchen Thermometer is…I am such a gadget geek!  

My dinner last night. I thought it was a good idea to practice for the Fourth of July and try out my new toy. Simple turkey burger with cheddar, lettuce and ketchup with sweet potato steak fries. 

If burgers aren’t your thing, no worries, Jennie-O has got your covered with their new Uncured Turkey Franks.

Jennie-O has a list of gluten-free products on their website, but they also clearly label their products so that there is no confusion. 

If you are looking for inspiration, be sure to check out the Jennie-O website for all kinds of recipes. There is even a section for BBQ/Picnics…perfect for the Fourth of July! *Not all of the recipes are written gluten-free, so use caution when preparing. 

How will you celebrate your holiday? Will you make the switch?

*The products mentioned in this post were sent to me free of charge for review purposes. The thoughts and opinions shared here are mine and have not been influenced by anyone or anything.

Although it seems like I have disappeared, I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth, I promise. It’s summer time and things are hopping. There has been an increase of personal training clients at the studio, school is out, marathon training is in full swing and the puppies take up a lot of my time. I still post daily over at Celiac-Disease.com and remain active on the Gluten-Free is Life Facebook page.  

You may have caught that I am “marathon” training in the paragraph above. I do believe that I said I would “never” run a full marathon again, however, we all know how the saying goes, “Never say never”.  While I could go into great detail about the thought process that went into this decision, I won’t bore you with all of that. The simple fact is that I may just be a little bit crazy. 

As marathon training ramps up, I am experimenting with different products to help hydrate and fuel me along the way. Below is the newest hydration mix I have sampled.

Skratch Labs Exercise Hydration Mix

(source)

This is an all natural sports drink.  It replaces both the fluid and electrolytes you lose in your sweat while providing just enough calories to help fuel your working muscles. Flavored with only real fruit and containing no artificial colors or preservatives, our drink mix won’t upset your stomach, leave a bad taste in your mouth, or challenge your IQ with tongue twisting chem-lab ingredients.  It just works better.  Maybe that’s why, for years, top athletes have been secretly replacing their sponsors’ products with drink mix made from Skratch.  You Sweat. We Hydrate.

I tried the Exercise Hydration Mix with Raspberries and really enjoyed the taste. It was not overly sweet like some sports drinks on the market and it really seemed to agree with my stomach, which is the most important thing. All of the Exercise and Everyday Mixes are free of wheat, gluten, soy and dairy. Skratch Labs products can be found in select stores or online. 

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13