Tips For Healthier Barbeques

As the weather gets warmer, you might already be planning some BBQs with friends and family. There’s nothing better than spending the afternoon with your loved ones enjoying the sun and eating delicious, freshly cooked food.

Unfortunately, not all of our favorite BBQ foods are healthy for us, especially in large quantities. The good news is that there are plenty of ways to keep all your food low in calories and saturated fats.

Here are our top tips for making your BBQ healthier:

• Cook lean proteins, such as chicken and turkey, and avoid cooking red meats. The regular consumption of red meat has been linked to an increased risk of cancer and heart disease, and it contains a lot more saturated fat and cholesterol than poultry.
• Include vegetarian and vegan options. Veggie food tends to be lower in saturated fats than meat but still contains important macronutrients and  micronutrients.
• Marinade your meats and vegetables to avoid charring the food. If you don’t properly marinade your food, they cook much quicker on the BBQ. If you’re not careful, you can end up burning or charring the food. Charring food causes the formation of HAAs, which have been linked to cancer in animals.
• Use lots of bright colored vegetables as side dishes with your meats