Belly Busting Barbecue

Is there such a thing as a belly-busting barbecue? I am probably not going to reveal any secrets here if I tell you that a traditional barbecue is not very healthy. But it does not have to be that way. There is a way to turn your typical barbecue fare into a belly-busting barbecue that is not only healthy, but also delicious.

How do you do that? Registered dietician Cheryl Forberg explains how you can cut the empty calories off the menu.

Skewer ‘em Cheryl is a big fan of veggie kabobs. She says, “Cut vegetables such as eggplant, zucchini or bell peppers in even-sized pieces and thread them on skewers with mushrooms or cherry tomatoes. When they’re all the same size, they’ll cook at the same rate.”

Take turkey Have a 4-ounce extra-lean turkey burger instead of traditional ground beef. According to Cheryl, this will save you more than 150 calories and 20 grams of fat. A 4-ounce turkey burger has 122 calories and 1.5 grams of fat, while lean ground beef has 288 calories and 23 grams of fat.

Have dessert Craving something sweet after your meal? Grill fruit! Cheryl recommends, “Once the coals have died down and the heat is low, add raw fruit to the grill.” Try peach halves, pear halves or thick slices of pineapple. Fruit still has a lot of sugar, so do not make it a free-for-all. Keep serving sizes small and save the leftovers. You can have it for breakfast or in a salad the next day.

Pound it Boneless, skinless chicken breasts are great, but they sometimes end up dry since they are very easy to overcook. “To ensure even cooking, place each breast between two sheets of wax paper or plastic wrap, and pound it to an even thickness,” says Cheryl.

Marinate ‘em Marinades add great flavor to whatever you are cooking, but some of them are loaded with sugar and can ruin a perfectly healthy protein. Instead, opt for fat-free or low-fat vinaigrettes for grilled veggies or a homemade low- or no-sugar-added marinade. [via]