We celebrate holidays and birthdays by firing up the grill and inviting friends and neighbors over – a fun outdoor barbecue can feel like summer. You may feel like you have to ditch your healthy eating when you commit to a barbecue, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
There are countless ways to eat healthy at a barbecue, and if you’re the host, you have a plethora of healthy and delicious options to choose from as you plan your menu.
Here are some of my favorite healthy menu options for your summer barbecue.
Appetizers
guacamole
Ingredients: 3 avocados, mashed; 1/4 cup chopped cilantro; 1/2 chopped onion; 1 tomato, diced; 2 tablespoons of lime juice; jalapenos (optional) Mix all the ingredients and enjoy!
watermelon on pizza
Slice the watermelon and cut it into triangles, like a pizza. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sprinkle with feta cheese (optional), sprinkle with almonds or walnut slices. Top with any other desired fruit such as pomegranate seeds, strawberries, or blueberries.
Stuffed mushrooms
De-stem the mushrooms. Drizzle mushrooms with olive oil and fill with desired ingredients. My suggestion: minced garlic, spinach and onion. Cook mushrooms at 350 degrees for 20-45 minutes, until tender.
Main courses
shrimp skewer
Arrange shrimp on skewers and drizzle with fresh lemon juice. Top with freshly ground black pepper, fresh herbs of your choice and grill until cooked through.
Portobello Burger
Drizzle olive oil over the portobello hats and grill until cooked through. Use portobello tops as hamburger buns. Place the patty of your choice (vegetarian, black bean, turkey, etc.) between the portobello tops. Top with toppings of your choice and enjoy!
grilled vegetables
As simple as that, but so delicious! Drizzle vegetables of your choice (I recommend zucchini, red bell pepper, and eggplant) with olive oil and fresh herbs. Grill to preferred tenderness.
Fittings
Cucumber and Dill Salad
Ingredients: 3 cucumbers, sliced; 1 white onion, sliced; 1/3 cup white or cider vinegar; 1 teaspoon minced garlic; 1 stem of green onion, sliced; 2 tablespoons freshly chopped dill. Mix all ingredients and chill before serving.
Tomato and Chickpea Salad
Ingredients: 1 can of chickpeas, drained; 1/2 red onion, sliced; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 cup of chopped cucumber; 1/2 cup of chopped parsley; 2 cups cherry tomatoes, cut in halves; 1/3 cup olive oil; 2 tablespoons of white wine vinegar; freshly ground black pepper Mix all the ingredients and chill.
Potato and Avocado Salad
Ingredients: 2 pounds of small red potatoes; 3 avocados, pureed; 1/2 cup of chopped onion; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; freshly ground black pepper Cook potatoes until tender. Cut the potatoes and add the remaining ingredients.
Desserts
Chocolate and Banana Cream
Ingredients: 2 bananas; 3 tablespoons of cocoa powder. Slice the bananas and freeze for 30-45 minutes. Blend the frozen bananas with the cocoa powder. Blend until smooth and top with any additional ingredients you like.
Grilled Pineapple A La Mode
Slice pineapples and grill briefly until heated through. Top with your favorite dairy-free ice cream and sprinkle with honey.
There are always healthy versions of your favorite foods, if you can choose the healthy over the not so healthy, go for it.
