Hot dogs, hamburgers, ribs, oh my! If you’re into eating clean, the summer barbecue can be a minefield of unhealthy choices. The good news is that there are plenty of clean eating options to choose from, all nutritious and tasty.
The key is finding satisfying but healthy dishes that everyone will love. Here are a few of our favorite alternatives to the usual summer fare.
Lentil Burgers
One of the challenges of making a grillable, meatless option to burgers, is that they often fall apart too easily. The key is achieving the right consistency of your burger mixture; if it’s too wet or too dry, it won’t hold its shape and cook right, or it might even into the grill cavity. Aside from getting the texture right, another good option is to use a grill pan on your grill. If the burgers fall apart, at least you can still save and eat the mixture. Just be sure to use a vegan, non-stick cooking spray or some olive oil to keep the burgers from sticking.
This Food Network recipe for Vegan Lentil Burgers are tasty and the lentils and breadcrumbs naturally stick together.
Grilled Veggies
It really can’t get easier than this. Take any of your favorite summer vegetables, zucchini, eggplant, peppers, etc., and cut them into long slices, about – 1thick. Lightly coat them with olive oil, sprinkle on a little salt and pepper, and pop them onto the grill. Cook to your desired doneness level (some people like their veggies charred, some don’t). Even people who eat meat will enjoy these, as they’ll be bursting with flavor.
Vegan Sweet Potato Mac n’ Cheese
Aside from apple pie, there’s almost no other American dish that’s as much of a staple for summer barbecues than mac n’ cheese. Our clean eating version provides all the crunch and richness of a traditional mac n’ cheese, without all the extra calories and use of processed foods.
Check out the recipe here.
BBQ Sauce
We posted this recipe for Memorial Day, but of course it’s great to use for a Labor Day cookout as well! It’s shocking how many people turn to store-bought sauces, which have so much added sugar, colorants, and other unhealthy additives and preservatives. This recipe for BBQ sauce is not only healthy, but it’s bursting with flavor. And best of all, IT’S SIMPLE! You can use this for grilling just about anything that you normally would with barbecue sauce, from meats (for your meat-eating friends) to grilled portabella mushrooms or even the lentil burgers mentioned above.
These are just a few options for enjoying summer barbecues while eating clean. If you want more ideas, schedule a visit with one of our integrative specialists or join us for one of our cooking classes. They love to share their favorite recipes!
Looking for ideas for healthier eating? Schedule a visit with one our alternative medicine doctors and we’ll develop a personalized plan to ensure you get as much nutrition out of every bite as you can!