BBQ fish is a healthy alternative to fatty meats

If you eat more than usual, focus on the meat and dodge the green salad, then you will pile on the pounds. However help is at hand as there are healthy ways of having a barbecue.

Before the summer is over, fire up the BBQ one more time and follow these simple tips for creative calorie controlled cuisine:

1. Reduce the fat. Instead of bangers and burgers, try a bit of trimmed steak or skinless chicken. Fish is another great alternative to fatty meats, chunky fish like tuna is ideal or wrap a piece of salmon or trout in some tin foil with lemon and herbs.

2. Use more vegetables. Swap your pork kebabs for vegetable kebabs. A few peppers, mushrooms, onions, squash and tomatoes all go well on a skewer and taste even better when marinated.

3. Fruit kebabs are delicious. Try threading some pineapple, orange, apple and banana onto a skewer and flame for a minute each side. The smell and flavours make them tasty desert.

4. Marinades for healthy flavour. Not only does a good marinade vastly improve the taste, but olive oil and citrus juices have many health benefits.

5. Greener salads. Potato salads and coleslaw are tasty and popular bbq side dishes but they are not very healthy. Try mixing up a crispy green salad with rocket and sweet tomatoes, or create a tasty morrocan style cous-cous for a fat free feast.

6. Reduce salt. Embrace your creative culinary taste buds and sprinkle on some herbs or shake out some spices. Salt and pepper are not the only way to add flavour.

7. Cook with care. Let the flames die down before adding your meat. This way it’s more likely to cook thoroughly instead of going black on the outside and pink in the middle. Patience will pay off with tasty well cooked food and no upset stomachs.

8. Think hygiene. Make sure your grill is clean before cooking. Keep cooked and uncooked meats separate. Wash hands regularly.

9. Eat less. The simplest way to control the calories. Many people feel obliged to eat more at barbecues but fight the urge. Eat as much as you would normally.

10. Cook less. Most people cook enough to feed a small army no matter how many people are eating. Choose quality instead of quantity. A few hand-made burgers or carefully crafted kebabs will satisfy appetites and taste-buds better.

Hopefully with these top ten tips in mind you can enjoy a more tasty, healthy and satisfying BBQ this summer.

Browse our blog for more BBQ safety tips and BBQ recipes.

{ 0 comments }