Grilling Out with Healthy Foods?

The 4th of July is upon us! While it’s technically just one day out of the year, we Americans make a good effort to stretch out the festivities for a good 3 or 4 day weekend if we can manage. And lo and behold, the 4th has fallen on a Thursday this year. That means Wednesday night is the preparty, Thursday is the big day, Friday is the follow up party, and Saturday and Sunday are the after party and recovery!

What a lineup of days, right? That’s a lot of time to do some grilling and eat some amazing foods.

Speaking of foods to be grilled on the 4th, have you ever wondered what options are out there for healthier eating? Whether you’re doing it for yourself, your spouse, your ailing grandparents, or your kids, it’s never a bad idea to check out foods that are better for you, less overall calories, and yet taste just as great as other meats.

Let’s dig into some healthier options this Independence Day.

Turkey burgers.

If you have the option between regular hamburgers and turkey burgers, go with turkey every time. Trust me, there’s nothing like a turkey burger with mustard and pickles on it. In fact, I far prefer turkey burgers nowadays simply because they’re lighter on my stomach, they are tastier, and they’re far less greasy.

Kebobs.

This all comes down to what you put on them, but the absolute staples of kebobs are onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers. From there, you can put what meats you like, though I suggest chicken or fish as your healthier options.

Fish.

Speaking of fish on kebobs, why not grill a nice fat salmon this 4th of July? I love salmon steaks fresh off the grill. There’s nothing like a nice coat of blackening seasoning on top of some fresh salmon right off the grill. And if you’re not a huge fan of salmon but want to try something steak like, pick up some tuna steaks. These are called tomahawk steaks some places, but they’ll trick you into thinking you’re actually eating a beef steak!

Veggies.

I love grilling veggies (and I include mushrooms in this category, as they’re one of my favorite foods out there). From asparagus to zucchini and potatoes to corn on the cob, veggies handle the grill a lot better than you’d expect. Just watch for the black grill marks and you’ll start to get an idea when your veggies are ready to eat.