Summertime brings with it all sorts of opportunities to enjoy healthy corn recipes, from backyard barbecues to county fairs and even while we’re camping with the family. Roasted on the cob, picked fresh from a farmer’s market can provide a massive abundance of nutrients and flavor.  That said, you need to pay a bit of attention to make sure you’re choosing the options that will be supporting your wellness instead of working against it.

What Makes for Healthy Corn Recipes?

There are a tremendous number of different combinations that offer healthy corn recipes that taste absolutely wonderful.  This means that they can provide a fantastic option to give adults and kids alike a nutritious option without also getting complaints along with it!

While this veggie does come with a certain calorie load, it also comes packed with nutrients (some similar to those you’d find in the best vision supplements!) and fiber that can make it a great option for anyone who is weight conscious.  The key is to avoid the inclination to douse it in butter and perhaps even sprinkle on the parmesan cheese.  Yes, that tastes absolutely delicious, and there’s nothing wrong with opting for that combination on rare occasion as a treat, but if you plan to truly get the most out of those fresh cobs purchased directly from the farmer, butter and cheese will not be your primary toppings.

Choosing Healthy Corn Recipes that Taste Amazing

Your key to healthy corn recipes that taste incredible and that you can eat on a regular basis without harming your weight loss goals is either using calorie-dense toppings in moderation or in using the corn as an accent to larger meals.

If you absolutely adore buttered corn on the cob, the key is to measure out the butter and use it very sparingly. You can easily use less butter on a full cob than you would to butter a piece of bread, as long as you take care with how you spread it.  The key, after all, isn’t to eat a load of butter, but to draw out the flavor of the vegetable! Choosing salted butter will help to ensure you’re getting the most flavor in each bite.

That said, for something a bit different, skip the butter and choose a spice mix instead. You’ll be amazed at how this slashes the calorie and fat content of your meal while turning it into one of your favorite healthy corn recipes. A light dusting of a smoky spice mix or even a bit of taco seasoning can go a long way to creating an entirely new experience out of your fresh summer veggie.

Other Options to Try

Other great healthy corn recipes to try during its freshest season include the following. These each take 15 minutes or less and ring in at no more than 350 calories per serving.

Summer Chowder

• ½ can white beans, rinsed
• 1 cup condensed potato chowder
• ¼ cup fresh corn, cooked and removed from cob
• ½ cup asparagus, chopped, cooked
• 1 tbsp chopped bacon (or bacon bits if preferred)

Combine white beans and corn in the condensed soup.  Add water according to soup package directions.  Heat in a small pot. Add asparagus. Serve topped with bacon.

Fresh Corn Cheesy Quesadilla

• 1 small flour tortilla
• 1½ slices of part skim mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup fresh corn, cooked and removed from cob
• 1 tbsp reduced fat sour cream
• Desired amount red onion, minced
• Desired amount tomato, chopped
• Desired amount cilantro, chopped
• Desired amount bottled salsa

Place non-stick pan sprayed lightly with cooking oil over medium heat. Spread out the tortilla and add cheese, corn and onion to one side, topped by tomato and cilantro. Fold in half and add to pan. Grill until desired doneness. Remove from heat and serve topped with sour cream and salsa.