Wednesday, June 24, 2009 - 1 Comments
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I want to grill more this summer. How can I keep it healthy?
Grillin’ and chillin’! If you’re like my husband, any excuse for grilling works in my house. But the trick is to fire up the grill and create a meal that is healthy but still tastes great! Whether you’re grilling or cooking indoors (inside grills work, too), the important thing is to enjoy your food and have a good time preparing it. For most of us, summer time provides us with more opportunity to get outdoors and spend more time with family and friends.
The best part about grilling to me is the easy clean up and the abundance of healthy options you can throw down! Grilling, in general, can be a healthy way to cook. Less oil is used in preparation, and you can cook up your favorite lean proteins (and even include fruits and vegetables). It’s a simple way to cook your entire meal.
1. Grill your protein: Pick lean protein meats, chicken, fish, seafood, pork – you name it. You can grill them up plain or add some marinades (low-fat dressings, salsa or juice). Forget salt and use herbs.
2. Grill your vegetables: Add some olive oil and grill them right in a pan on the grill or directly on the grates. This will also help keep them from sticking to the grates/pan while keeping them healthy. The key to grilling vegetables (and fruits) is to use low heat so they stay firm and not mushy. Try grilling squash, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, okra, onions, broccoli and peppers.
3. Grill your fruits (slice with pulp down): It’s a great way to get in those vitamins and minerals while eating something sweet. Fruit generally takes about 3-5 minutes to cook – keep your eye on it because due to the sugar content of the fruit, it can burn easily. Fruits are best grilled when the coals are less hot (when they’ve begun to die out).
4. Grill your starches: Try potatoes, squash, corn and even French fries. Wrap potatoes or squash in foil and drizzle a little olive oil and herbs. Grill husks of corn by pulling back the husks and removing the silk, exposing the kernels.
It’s recommended to remove the silk so your corn is clean and the silk doesn’t fall in the grill or burn. And don’t forget favorites like French fries. They can be grilled the healthy way by slicing potatoes and adding your favorite herb seasonings (place in a metal pan on the grill).
5. Grill your desserts: Instead of serving some of those high-calorie desserts like cakes, pies or ice-cream, serve grilled fruit instead of dessert – it tastes sweet and uses the fruit’s natural sugar. Sliced pineapple grilled and then add low-fat frozen yogurt to top it off as a dessert.
Enjoy summer and keep it healthy and safe. Don’t forget the sunscreen!!!!!!!
Check out our online meeting "Healthy Summer Barbeques" at 5 p.m. EST, June 29, 2009. Our Nutrition Support Team will help you enjoy the outdoors and keep it fresh and healthy.
Looking for a way to make weight loss easier? With personalized meal plans and fitness routines, eDiets can help! Join now and save 25%!
I want to grill more this summer. How can I keep it healthy? Grillin’ and chillin’! If you’re like my husband, any excuse for grilling works in my house. But the trick is to fire up the grill and create a meal that is healthy but still tastes great! Whether you’re grilling or cooking indoors (inside grills work, too), the important thing is to enjoy your food and have a good time preparing it. For most of us, summer time provides us with more opportunity to get outdoors and spend more time with family and friends.
The best part about grilling to me is the easy clean up and the abundance of healthy options you can throw down! Grilling, in general, can be a healthy way to cook. Less oil is used in preparation, and you can cook up your favorite lean proteins (and even include fruits and vegetables). It’s a simple way to cook your entire meal.
1. Grill your protein: Pick lean protein meats, chicken, fish, seafood, pork – you name it. You can grill them up plain or add some marinades (low-fat dressings, salsa or juice). Forget salt and use herbs.
2. Grill your vegetables: Add some olive oil and grill them right in a pan on the grill or directly on the grates. This will also help keep them from sticking to the grates/pan while keeping them healthy. The key to grilling vegetables (and fruits) is to use low heat so they stay firm and not mushy. Try grilling squash, asparagus, tomatoes, carrots, okra, onions, broccoli and peppers.
3. Grill your fruits (slice with pulp down): It’s a great way to get in those vitamins and minerals while eating something sweet. Fruit generally takes about 3-5 minutes to cook – keep your eye on it because due to the sugar content of the fruit, it can burn easily. Fruits are best grilled when the coals are less hot (when they’ve begun to die out).
4. Grill your starches: Try potatoes, squash, corn and even French fries. Wrap potatoes or squash in foil and drizzle a little olive oil and herbs. Grill husks of corn by pulling back the husks and removing the silk, exposing the kernels.
It’s recommended to remove the silk so your corn is clean and the silk doesn’t fall in the grill or burn. And don’t forget favorites like French fries. They can be grilled the healthy way by slicing potatoes and adding your favorite herb seasonings (place in a metal pan on the grill).
5. Grill your desserts: Instead of serving some of those high-calorie desserts like cakes, pies or ice-cream, serve grilled fruit instead of dessert – it tastes sweet and uses the fruit’s natural sugar. Sliced pineapple grilled and then add low-fat frozen yogurt to top it off as a dessert.
Enjoy summer and keep it healthy and safe. Don’t forget the sunscreen!!!!!!!
Check out our online meeting "Healthy Summer Barbeques" at 5 p.m. EST, June 29, 2009. Our Nutrition Support Team will help you enjoy the outdoors and keep it fresh and healthy.
Looking for a way to make weight loss easier? With personalized meal plans and fitness routines, eDiets can help! Join now and save 25%!
Comment: Monday, July 06, 2009 3:39:00 PM - 
NiCoLe said...
That is such a good idea to grill the dessert. I have never thought to do that. This is something that I will definitely have to try.
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