These summer temperatures are perfect for barbecuing with friends and family! However, barbecues often come with more calories than a regular meal—think lots of meat, bread, and creamy salads. Luckily, with a few conscious choices, you can organize a BBQ that’s both fun and healthy!
Tip 1: Choose fresh and unprocessed meat, fish, or vegetarian options
Grilling meat or fish usually doesn’t require butter or oil—that’s already a win! Go for lean and unprocessed choices like chicken skewers, turkey fillet, white fish, or a veggie burger.
Tip 2: Fill your plate just once
A common BBQ trap is overeating—four, five, or even more pieces of meat. At dinner, you usually only fill your plate once, so try to do the same here. Want to taste different items? Cut them into smaller pieces or make skewers with a mix of meats, fish, or meat alternatives.
Tip 3: Add plenty of vegetables & fruit
Why not grill more vegetables? Bell pepper, zucchini, eggplant, fennel, red onion—all great on the grill. Also add veggies and fruit to your salads. Skip the store-bought potato or meat salads—they’re often full of fat and additives.
Tip 4: Eat well throughout the day
It takes time for the BBQ to heat up. Make sure to eat balanced meals earlier in the day so you don’t arrive ravenous and overeat. Have a small, healthy snack before heading out so you’re not tempted to load up on bread and herb butter right away.
Tip 5: Choose healthier sauces
Sauces are BBQ staples, but they often contain too much sugar, salt, and fat. Make your own instead—tastier, healthier, and fun to prepare. Try guacamole, pesto, garlic sauce, or lemon mayo.
Keep these tips in mind this summer, and you can enjoy all the BBQ fun without compromising your health or goals!