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Trainer Tuesday: What are the healthiest foods to eat at a barbecue?

Posted: 06/18/2013

Healthy foods at barbecues can be plentiful depending upon the chef's selection. When considering meats, opt for a grilled chicken breast, fillet of fish or a tasty turkey burger. Make sure to use whole grain whole-wheat rolls and low calorie condiments, such as mustard. Sautéed veggies, salads and fruit, especially pineapple, make excellent sides at any BBQ. Also, check out some low calorie iced teas (Crystal Light) to help amplify the flavors of a cookout on a hot summer day. 

-Andy

 

The healthiest thing you can have at a barbecue is the fruit salad! It is loaded with antioxidants especially if it contains berries and it is refreshing on those hot summer days. Also, remember to hydrate! Water is the ultimate thirst quencher that won't wreck your diet and if you drink before you eat, it will help keep you full so you won't over indulge on less healthier choices. -Sara

I feel that the healthy food choices at a cookout are no different than healthy food choices in general, it just may be a little bit harder make them.  Fresh vegetables and lean proteins are two groups of food that should never be ignored.  One advantage of having these at a cookout is that you can rely on the added flavor a food gets from being grilled and stay away from caloric condiments and dressings.  Just make sure you opt for chicken breasts and lean burgers instead of chicken wings and rib eye steak! –Keith

My favorite dishes at barbecues are salads...and not just the vegetable variety. I have made and/or tried many cold pasta salads made healthier with whole wheat pasta, fresh veggies and olive-oil based dressings. Other delicious whole grain cold salads can be made with quinoa, chopped veggies, nuts and/or dried fruits. Recipes are highly accessible on the internet and in many contemporary cookbooks. Hannah

Eat Strawberries!

Posted: 06/17/2013

Eat strawberries

Save the apples and pears for the fall…now is the season to dig in to those berries!

Try Cold Soups Like Gazpacho!

Posted: 06/10/2013

Try cold soups like gazpacho

Cold summer soups like gazpacho or cucumber dill that contain lots of veggies are the perfect way to lighten up and cool off this summer.

Eat Watermelon!

Posted: 06/03/2013

Eat watermelon

It’s June and baby it’s starting to get hot out there.Watermelon is perfect for quenching parched lips (90% of watermelon is water) 

Eat Cherry Tomatoes!

Posted: 05/20/2013

Eat cherry tomatoes

It’s the season to take advantage of this all-star vegetable. 

It's Spring...Try Snap Peas!

Posted: 05/13/2013

It’s spring—eat some snap peas

Yep…they are in season and they are sweet and delicious and super low in calories.

 

Write Down What You Eat

Posted: 05/06/2013

Write down what you eat

New Year’s Resolutions are a distant memory so now is the time to refocus and get back on track for bathing suit season. 

Try Red Leaf Lettuce

Posted: 04/29/2013

Try red leaf lettuce

At a measly 7 calories per cup, red leaf lettuce is the best nutrition bargain out there. 

Try Roasted Red Beets

Posted: 04/22/2013

Try roasted red beets

Red beets are incredibly nutritious and low in calories (just 35 for a half cup serving).

Try Spring Peas

Posted: 04/15/2013

Try spring peas

Peas are a legume—the super-nutritious fiber-packed fruit (yes…it’s a fruit)