Here in the U.S., the upcoming Memorial Day weekend unofficially kicks off summer, which means barbecues, graduation parties, picnics, and other summer celebrations. If we’re not careful, it can be all too easy for these celebrations to become calorie fests. Try these tips for a healthy, and fun, summer barbecue:
- Get cozy with vegetables. When it comes to nutrition advice, it seems that we’re always hearing about what we can’t eat. Fortunately, it’s pretty hard to go wrong with vegetables. Try grilling asparagus or zucchini, mix a fresh summer salad, or hit the farmer’s market to stock up on seasonal veggies (which are generally cheaper there compared to the grocery store).
- Bored with burgers? Grill kabobs instead. These are one of my favorite summer foods. I recently treated my family to the kebabs pictured above with chicken, zucchini, red onion, and bell peppers.
- Grill fruit. Drizzle pineapple slices with honey and a dash of brown sugar and place on the grill for a fun and sweet dessert.
- Pass on the pasta salad and try a quinoa (pronounced “keen-wah”) salad instead. Cook quinoa in vegetable broth and mix with chopped sweet potatoes, peppers, and maybe even some dried cranberries if you’re feeling creative. Bonus? Quinoa is gluten free.
- Get up and move. Don’t let the food be the main focus of your summer celebration. Propose a group activity like volleyball, a game of H-O-R-S-E (which uses a basketball), badminton, volleyball, Frisbee, or bean bag toss.
Kicking off summer with a healthy barbecue will keep your guests—and your waistline—happy.
