Do you know how to eat healthy at a BBQ? With such tasty options as hot dogs, coleslaw, and potato salad, it seems impossible to have other options. In fact, there are good options out there. Read on to learn some tips on how to eat healthy at a BBQ.
Table of contents:
- Bring a side dish
- Stick with protein
- Avoid condiments
- Ditch starchy foods
- Opt for low-calorie salad dressings
- Choose berries over ice cream
- Bring your own BBQ sauces
- Bring the beans
1. Bring a side dish
If you bring a side dish you will control what that is. Choose a raw veggie tray with carrots, cucumbers, grape tomatoes, celery, cauliflower, and broccoli, and consider bringing salsa or hummus. It’s a guilt-free side dish that you can feel good about eating!
2. Stick with protein
Another great way to eat healthy at a barbecue is to stick with protein. No matter whether it will be hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, fish, chicken, or pork, be sure to stick with protein.
For instance, if you are eating hot dogs and hamburgers, leave off the bun and eat only meat to avoid refined carbs and flours. Protein will boost your metabolism and keep you fuller longer. It will also reduce your cravings for sugar and starches.
3. Avoid condiments
It’s important to avoid condiments. Instead of using sugar-laden ketchup, or mayo as a topping, stick with mustard, with is usually calorie-free. If you don’t like mustard, you can top your hamburger or hot dog with onion and tomato, or salsa that is a great option to ketchup.
4. Ditch starchy foods
Instead of eating chips, baked beans, potato salad, and coleslaw, stick with sides like grilled veggies, pickles, plain sweet potatoes, or grilled corn. I usually make the salad out of the hamburger toppings like onions, tomato, and lettuce, and then top my salad with some meat. Give it a try!
5. Opt for low-calorie salad dressings
When a salad is served, I usually top mine with a little balsamic vinegar or salsa, but you can also stick with low-calorie dressings. If that is not available either, then choose Italian dressing over Ranch dressing to avoid too much sugar and too much saturated fat.
6. Choose berries over ice cream
If ice cream is being served for dessert, choose such berries as strawberries or blueberries, instead! You can bring some berries if none will be there. But be sure to bring enough berries for everyone, so that they may use them to top off their ice cream. You can also bring a pineapple, which contains plenty of Vitamin C and good enzymes that aid digestion.
7. Bring your own BBQ sauces
Almost all barbecue sauces are filled with molasses, high fructose corn syrup, or other sources of refined sugars. Opt for gluten-free, sugar-free, and calorie-free barbecue sauces. You can find them where you find other BBQ sauces and ketchup in your store.
8. Bring the beans
You know many BBQ gatherings usually have baked beans, which have a lot of added sugars. Why not bring your own? I usually bring green beans cooked in olive oil, pepper, and salt.
You can also heat up one of the cans, however, make sure you choose only low-sodium varieties. It’s better to choose green beans, which are lower in carbs, full of fiber and protein, and easier to digest. Don’t like green beans? Bring some zucchini squash and ask it to be grilled.
Do you have any tips on how to eat healthy at a BBQ? Share them, please!1