Healthy Ideas for Grilling BBQ

Grilling BBQ is one approach to food that you can eat that comes with very little guilt if done properly. From my perspective, summer can be the most difficult time to keep good eating habits. However, grilling bbq isn't just about meat. There are all the other options that you have to watch out for.

Don’t blow all your hard work on a poorly laid plan at your first backyard bar-b-que this summer. Figure out your strategy ahead of time and maintain your fit bod while still enjoying some really delicious food! Here are some tips on healthy eating during those wonderful days of summer.

TOTALLY IN	TOTALLY SIN
Lean bison burgers – with fewer calories and fat than even extra lean ground beef, this burger is the perfect clean eating choice for summer grilling	Angus burgers – read your labels; these guys can pack 28 g of fat per burger! Who needs to work all that off for the next 3 days?!
Avocado – smear this on your burger for added flavour and healthy fats	Mayo – Just one tablespoon of this tangy spread pounds a whopping 100 calories and 12 grams of fat, not to mention saturated fats and oils too.
Sweet potato fries – baked or grilled, these little guys pack a punch of beta-carotene in your diet	French fries – fried, white, greasy…need I say more?!
Salsa fresca – made with fresh tomatoes, salsa is rich in lycopene, vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B-6 and folate. Tip: spread salsa on your burger and eggs!	Ketchup – loaded with sugar and high fructose corn syrup ketchup can ruin your clean eating meal in just one tablespoon
Berries and club soda – muddle together in a tall glass and add ice for a refreshing drink with few calories and no added sugar	Berry daquiri – this frozen concoction might sound good on a hot summer day but alcohol is loaded with sugar and at about 500 calories might also be the hurdle in way to being a fit chick. Also consuming alcohol tends to inhibit you from making other wise and clean eating choices.
Chicken breast – one of the best lean sources of protein around.	Chicken wings – a source of protein, but not so lean due to the cut on the chicken as well as the fatty skin.
Baked whole wheat pita chips and salsa fresca	Chips-n-dip – Even the fat free variety should be avoided. These are loaded with sodium to make up for the lack of fat and taste.
Watermelon wedges – melon is rich in lycopene and vitamin C not to mention water, all of which a hot summer sun can quickly deplete from your system.	Apple pie – one slice has 296 calories, that’s without the slice of cheddar cheese on top or whipped cream, depending on your cultural tradition with this quintessential summer food fare.
Frozen yogurt cups	Ice cream cones
Spinach salad – substitute this tasty leafy green in your salads or on your burger and you’ll be trading up for calcium, folate, vitamin C, vitamin A and iron	Potato salad – this picnic lunch staple could use a makeover of its own. With mayo, white potatoes, egg yolks and sour cream, this salad will have you either running for the hills or just running hills!