Nutrition

Tips to have a healthier barbecue

Summertime includes images of leisurely days spent lazing in the sun, chatting with friends by the pool, and enjoying a backyard barbecue. Kids are playing in the backyard; you can hear the sound of the ice cream truck, and the humid air makes you feel at ease. 

Sadly, the weather can also invite sunburn, bug bites, and other issues that can harm your health and ruin your week. The best treatment for summer safety is to avoid problems before they arise. 

Over time, consuming excessive amounts of saturated fat and salt can increase your "bad" cholesterol levels. Also, consuming more food and beverages during a barbeque is simpler than usual, particularly if it lasts long. 

Yet, eating barbecue doesn't always have to be unhealthy. We provide some of the best advice on making your barbecues healthier using simple substitutions that still taste great!

How can you enjoy a healthy summer BBQ?

Here are some of the greatest tips on enjoying a healthy summer BBQ. 

1. Invite fruits and vegetables to the party.

You can add fruits and vegetables in various ways to the menu. A fruit and vegetable platter with dips to make them more flavorful can be all it takes. Experimenting with grilling fruits and vegetables might be entertaining to see how they turn out, as you can grill practically anything. Asparagus, zucchini, yellow squash, eggplant, corn, bananas, peaches, plums, and even watermelon are a few to try. 

Another entertaining and healthful option to include fruit at the party is a smoothie station. Use only one or two fruits in your smoothies, and add milk or yogurt for protein.

2. Choose the best barbecue meat.

You can significantly lower your saturated fat consumption by choosing leaner meat cuts. A leaner option would be to purchase a loin of pork rather than ribs or a leaner cut of beef. Also, remember to de-skin the bird. 

You should reconsider how you use leaner meat because it may be more expensive to purchase. Slice or chop the meat to be strung onto skewers with vegetables like peppers, onions, and courgettes rather than cooking it whole. Meat can be softer by marinating it to compensate for moisture loss from a lower fat content. To make the meat softer and easier to eat, the acids in the marinade, such as lemon juice or vinegar, will dissolve the muscle fibers or hard pieces of flesh.

3. Give your meat a soak or rub.

We're not discussing a day at the spa! Spices may give incredible flavor to meat, fish, and poultry while allowing you to use less salt. Only 12 cups of marinade or one tablespoon of spice rub are required for every pound of food. Make a basic rub; use black pepper and your preferred spice (including allspice, chili powder, cinnamon, cumin, paprika, or rosemary). 

Never reuse a marinade or rub that has come into contact with raw meat.

4. Avoid store-bought marinades and salads.

Make marinades and salads whenever possible because store-bought ones often have extra fat, sodium, and sugar. Acid, oil, and flavorings are the basic elements of a marinade. Popular acid alternatives are citrus juice, vinegar, and yogurt. Use canola, safflower, or a combination of the two as an oil. These oils can have a higher smoke point because they have a higher smoke point than olive oil, which prevents them from deteriorating, oxidizing, and creating carcinogens. Some flavorings are onion, shallots, garlic, herbs, salt, and soy or Worcestershire sauce. 

Use an oil and vinegar base rather than mayonnaise for making coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad.

5. Drink less alcohol

When you're enjoying a BBQ, it's simple to go overboard. If you consume alcohol, consider switching between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You can also attempt dilution: turn wine into a spritzer, or if you're drinking beer, lager, or cider, try a half-and-half shandy. The other options are water or sugar-free fizzy drinks, but if you want to spice things up, try combining sparkling water with elderflower cordial and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

 Instead, combine pure fruit juice with a lot of ice, water, and other ingredients for a pleasant beverage.

How to choose the healthiest sausages?

It's essential to review the nutritional information to ensure you select foods with the fewest salt and saturated fat. The more expensive product will likely include fewer ingredients, a higher meat content, and "natural" casings than less expensive sausages (skin). However, this doesn't automatically imply that they are healthier, as expensive sausages can sometimes include more fat and salt than less expensive ones (because of the higher meat content).

Plan some special activities.

Overeating may be simpler when the barbecue's main attraction is food. Have some board games or outdoor games like corn hole, kickball, volleyball, or badminton accessible in addition to the food. Encourage everyone to take a stroll through the neighborhood or a nearby park. The idea isn't to work off the food you just ate but to divert attention from it so that neither you nor your visitors mindlessly munch on pretzels or chips since there is nothing else to do.

You may spend more time enjoying BBQs and socializing with your friends and family by having your medication delivered to your home for free rather than worrying about picking them up from the pharmacy.