Grilling is a great option for cooking many of your favorite foods, and many people choose to grill their food because it’s considered to be a healthy way of eating. However, depending on the choices you make, grilling might not be as nutritious as you think.

The following tips can help make your grilled foods not only super tasty, but healthy as well:

• When selecting meat and chicken to grill, go with the leanest choices. The label on the packaging will tell you if it’s lean, and sometimes you can tell how much fat is on the meat and chicken just by looking at it in the package.
• Fish is another healthy choice, but some fish doesn’t hold up on grills very well. You may want to consider purchasing a grill basket or pan that is designed for cooking fish on a grill.
• Marinades and barbeque sauce are a great way to add taste to your grilled foods; however, some marinades and barbeque sauces are very high in fat, sodium, and sugar. Instead of buying prepared marinades and barbeque sauces, consider squeezing fresh lemons or oranges on your protein while it’s on the grill, or using natural herbs (i.e., rosemary, thyme, oregano, and sage).
• Many vegetables, such as corn, zucchini, eggplant, onions, and mushrooms taste great when grilled, and because of their natural flavoring, there is no need to add anything to them for added taste. Farmers markets are a great place to purchase fresh vegetables. Don’t forget to take my Farmers Market Shopping List, which is included in my Clean Eating Made Easy e-book, with you – it helps you keep track of your favorite farmers market locations (including their location, days, and times), and your favorite vendors at each farmers market. Plus, you can specify if your favorite vendors sell certified organic and/or non-GMO food, and your favorite items that these vendors carry.
• Want to mix it up? Make kabobs using your favorite proteins and veggies. Cherry tomatoes, pearl onions, and mushrooms are great for kabobs because you don’t need to cut anything up. Kabobs are also a great choice if you’re having guests over – let them have fun making their own using their own choice of proteins and veggies.

Enjoy your barbecue!