Shrimp and Sausage Skewers with Okra

Grilling season is ending; celebrate the final warm days with this tasty recipe, full of lean protein from shrimp and chicken sausage and high-in-fiber okra.

“But isn’t shrimp a high cholesterol food?” you may ask. Yes, it is; however, current research shows that dietary intake of cholesterol is not an indication of high cholesterol in our blood. The foods that are concerning to our cholesterol levels are those that are high in saturated and trans fats. These are the fats that are solid at room temperatures, such as butter, lard, cheeses, and the fats in dairy and meat.

Saturated fats are also added to many processed and packaged foods, so don’t forget to look at nutrition labels when shopping! This recipe also swaps the traditional pork-based andouille sausage, high in saturated fat, for a chicken-based alternative. A diet high in fiber also helps improve our cholesterol levels, so although the recipe only calls for okra, add as many veggies as you want to these skewers!

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