The days are getting longer and warmer, which makes it a great time to be outside with friends and family and grill some healthy food. Find some tips below on how to use your grill for good and stick with your healthy lifestyle goals.
Pick a healthy protein: Fish, skinless chicken breast, lean ground poultry, or veggie burgers are all healthier choices. Choosing these options instead of red meat usually means that you will have less saturated fat. You can wrap your protein choices in foil, construct colorful kebabs, or make savory burgers by mixing mushrooms and onions into the patties.
Right-size your portions: The healthy portion size for any type of meat is about 3 ounces, or the size of a deck of cards. Even if that sounds small, just remember you can load your plate up with delicious grilled veggies and healthy side dishes.
Add lots of color: Pretty much all of your favorite fruits and veggies can be grilled. You can grill them alone or include them on a kebab. The trick is to cut them into pieces that will cook evenly and quickly. You can brush healthy oils on them to prevent sticking. Some great veggies for grilling include asparagus, avocado, bell peppers, corn, eggplant, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, squash and zucchini.
Choose healthier sides: Try swapping out the traditional barbeque sides like baked beans, cole slaw, macaroni salad and potato salad for a more healthy option such as a colorful bean salad, fruit salad, or leafy green salad. The more traditional sides can contain lots of saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars.
Make your buns whole grain: Whole-grain buns and breads will complement your healthy dinner with added fiber, flavor, and texture. If you are watching your carbohydrate intake, you can always make your burger a lettuce wrap as well.