- Events
- Calculators
- Running
- Triathlon
Cycling Events
Triathlon Articles
- Fitness
- Sports
Outdoor Events
- Nutrition
Nutrition Articles
Health & Injury Articles
- Kids & Family
9 Foods Fit for a Healthy Barbecue
Written by
From greasy cheeseburgers to preservative-filled chips to mayonnaise-laden salads, summer barbecues can be a nutritional nightmare if you're not careful. If you're attending someone else's event, check out these tips on how to navigate through the unhealthy options. If you've been asked to bring a dish or you're throwing your own summer festivities, consider serving the following healthy barbecue foods.
Teriyaki-Grilled Chicken
1 of 10
Not all barbecued proteins need to be served on a bun. The gluten-free folks will thank you for making this teriyaki-grilled chicken. The Asian chili sauce and ginger add a bit of spice, and the teriyaki sauce provides the sweetness. It only needs to marinate for 20 minutes, and it cooks in about 8.
Southwestern Quinoa Cakes
1 of 10
Rich with quinoa, black beans, mushrooms and red-bell pepper, these meatless patties can be served as an appetizer or entr?e—on a bun or off. Beer lovers will be happy to know that the sauce includes a few tablespoons of wheat beer. Just to be sure to warn your vegetarian friends that the cakes have egg in them.
Turkey-Jalapeno Burgers
1 of 10
Burgers are the stars of barbecue fare. But there's no rule that states they have to be made with beef, which is often fatty and difficult to digest. Ground turkey is lean and rich in B vitamins. Seasoned up with jalapeno, garlic and Worcestershire sauce, it's just as, if not more, flavorful than beef.
Jalapeno-Cilantro Coleslaw
1 of 10
Coleslaw is a barbecue staple. But so many coleslaw recipes are chock-full of mayonnaise and refined sugar. Not this one. The dressing is made with Greek yogurt, coconut milk and raw honey. Jalapeno gives the cabbage heat, smoky spices deepen its flavor, and cilantro and fresh lime juice brighten it up.
Grilled Orange Salad
1 of 10
Grilling fruit brings out its natural sweetness, which means you don't have to add any sugar. This salad features grilled sweet Naval oranges and a mouth-puckering pomegranate dressing. It's a refreshing accompaniment to any summer barbecue dish.
Edamame Confetti Salad
1 of 10
If you need a salad that you can leave out in the heat for a while and not worry about it spoiling, this is it. This dish is dressed with olive oil and red-wine vinegar. And, with all the protein-rich edamame, this salad could serve as main course for the vegans and vegetarians at the barbecue.
Baked Kale Chips
1 of 10
Making your own chips might seem like a lot of work, but these are super easy to prepare for your shindig. They take only 15 minutes to make, and they'll stay crunchy in your chip bowl for a few hours. Plus, they deliver 1,020 percent of your daily value of vitamin K.
Lean Condiments
1 of 10
Skip the fatty ranch dressing on salads and sugary barbecue sauces on meats, and opt for lean condiments such as salsa, hummus and mustard. Mustard seed contains antioxidants. And, turmeric, which is an ingredient in mustard, is a cancer-fighter.
Key Lime Granita
1 of 10
What's a barbecue without dessert? Answer: Not a good one! To satisfy everyone's sweet cravings—and also keep them cool—whip up this frozen key lime granita. Flavor-wise, it pay homage to key lime pie, but it holds far fewer calories and no fat.