Did you know that July is National Grilling Month? Summer is the best time to have those family barbecues with all of those tasty grilled foods. Cooking food on a grill provides the opportunity for some really great flavors to be cooked into some healthy foods!
Last year we shared these ideas to make your cookout a healthy one, and wanted to share them once again:
- Start with a salad – We are not grilling our salad, but we are sharing some ideas for some healthy salad dressings, because what better way to start out your healthy meal than with a bowl full of greens?
- Choose Lean Proteins – Use ground turkey for your burgers, lean chicken breasts (without the skin) or a tasty salmon or tilapia for the main dish! Trim off any visible fat before grilling and encourage smaller servings by grilling meat in smaller portions. For more flavor, brush with a small amount of extra-virgin olive oil, herbs, citrus, and pepper!
- Grill those Veggies – Vegetables taste great on the grill! For a yummy side, load up some colorful peppers, onions, mushrooms, summer squash, and zucchini on a skewer, coat with a little extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with some pepper for great taste! Corn on the cob is also very flavorful when cooked on the grill.
- Sweet Tooth – Discover enhanced flavor and sweetness when you consider grilling fruit for your dessert! Pineapple, apples, bananas and peaches are all great options to try on the grill. We have some great tips for grilling peaches here.
Make sure to consider food safety when grilling outdoors! In fact, here are some safe grilling tips compiled by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Be safe and enjoy!
What are your favorite things to grill in the summertime?
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