Great Gift Ideas for Dad & A Recipe He’s Sure To Love

Articles
June 19, 2015

Give dad the gift of healthy eating!

Father’s Day is just days away, and all dads come with all sorts of passions and hobbies from golf to marathons to armchair sports, from voracious readers to avid collectors. If your father has a great interest, buying a gift is a no-brainer. But before you rush to grab a gift, why not stop for a few minutes and think of some great things he'd love that come with no price tag at all? Here are some ideas.

Don’t give dads a tie this Father’s Day. Instead, give the gift of healthier eating that could lead to a longer life of wellness. Rather than ply dad with treats that give only short-term pleasure, help motivate him to eat smarter, exercise more, and get a medical checkup. This retraining will be a gift that lasts. Make it a family-wide effort – this is key! - to stock the pantry and fridge with healthier foods from now on, so everyone benefits. Set up a household system to encourage good behavior around food. 

Share his passions. Whether it's scouring the garage sales for old baseball cards or even playing ball in the back yard, tag along with him as he pursues his collectibles. Start the day with his favorite breakfast and make it healthy! Then off you go ... it's fun, it's easy, and you'll have even more to talk about next time you meet up for coffee. 

Nearly Dads are special, too. Uncles, fathers-in-law, mentors, teachers, older neighbors - all of these men can play a vibrant part in our lives. When a mentor or friend touches your life, remember them, too, on Father's Day; tell them now how much their involvement in your life has meant to you.

Father’s day is also the time to break out the grill and get barbequing! This is a great healthy recipe for Dads to tackle, or for their loved ones to cook with them, whether it be out camping, on a picnic, on the beach, or just in your own backyard. There are few ways of cooking that are quite as fun as barbequing in the great outdoors!

Here is a truly delicious and healthy recipe for grilled vegetables that the entire family will love.

 

This recipe makes 4 servings.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup fresh orange juice

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 medium zucchini, sliced lengthwise 1/4 inch thick

2 medium yellow squash, sliced lengthwise, 1/4 inch thick

8 ounces fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and caps thickly sliced

1 fennel bulb, sliced 1/4 inch thick

12 fresh asparagus spears, trimmed

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 ounces Parmesan cheese, shaved from the chunk of cheese using a vegetable peeler or 2 ounces of Parmesan shavings

12 basil leaves, coarsely torn

 

Directions:

Preheat the grill to medium-high.

In a small saucepot, combine the honey and the orange juice.

Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Set aside and keep warm.

In a large mixing bowl combine the vegetables with enough olive oil to lightly coat and season liberally with salt and pepper. Gently toss.

Grill the vegetables until nicely charred but still crisp-tender, turning often. (If using thin asparagus spears, add these to the grill last, as they will cook quickly).

Brush the vegetables with the honey/orange juice mixture and continue to grill for 1 to 2 minutes on each side, brushing the vegetables with the mixture and allowing the honey to caramelize from the heat of the grill.

To serve, arrange the vegetables on a large platter.

Top with shaving of Parmesan cheese and torn basil.

 

Jamie Gwen is a Celebrity Chef, Certified Sommelier, Lifestyle Expert and four-time Cookbook Author.

Recipe Courtesy of Jamie Gwen