Monday Funday - healthy BBQ options

Like any BBQ, there are both healthy and unhealthy options. It's up to you to navigate (or even bring a healthy option).

Here are some great ideas:

• Sam's Club "Member's Mark" Chicken, Sun Dried Tomato, and Provolone Cheese Sausages (per link: 120 calories, 7g fat (3g sat fat) 0 trans fat, 1g carbs, 490 mg sodium). These are absolutely delicious!!
  
• Instead of making a pesto pasta salad with regular pasta, use some whole wheat pasta. If you over cook the pasta a little, it has less of a grainy texture
• Chicken and Zucchini Pesto Shish (Slice the zucchini, and put it into a storage bag with pesto sauce for about two hours. Put the chicken and zucchini on skewers. If you use wooden skewers soak them for about 30 minutes to prevent splintering and burning on the grill. Turn the bag that you marinaded the zucchini in, and rub each chicken skewer with the left over pesto before placing it on the grill. BBQ for about 10-15 minutes, turning it over halfway)
• Make a fiery marinade. Mix spoonfuls of garlic powder, onion powder, ground cumin, ground red pepper, and Worcestershire sauce in a zipper-lock bag until it forms a paste. Toss in the meat and shake until it's well coated (from Men's Health)
• Change up your shish by adding seafood with fruit (they both cook quicker, so it's better to put hearty meats like steak and chicken with more dense veggies like cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and mushrooms. Whereas, tuna steak, salmon, or shrimp cook better along side pineapples and peaches)
• Grill up a portabella mushroom, instead of a burger. I use the whole wheat thin buns instead of white buns to vamp up the health factors for burgers. Turkey burgers are another good option.
  
• Fruit salads are always a party favorite, and for a little spunk, soak the fruit in flavored vodka (like Light Cruzan Pineapple Rum). Then, freeze for a couple of hours before the party. These fruits also make great "ice cubes" in a punch
• Nutty Apple Salad: combine mixed greens, cashews, sliced green apples, and apple cider vinegar to taste (as dressing) - Serving Size is 2 cups (courtsey of Fitness Magazine). This is a great way to add a summer flare to an everyday salad. 118 calories, 4 g fat (1g saturated fat), 19 g carbs, 31 mg sodium

Though the cheeseburgers, hot dogs, potato salads, cookies, and many other options may seem to call your name, remember that these options taste just as good (some better) and your body will feel much better for hours and years to come. On the other hand, if you find yourself eating strictly then maybe today is the day to live a little. It's up to you!

Happy Memorial Day!!