Healthy BBQ Diet Tips

The bright weather during summer makes it awesome to celebrate with barbecue parties, not to mention, 4th of July this coming weekend. Talk about perfect time to have fun outdoors with family and friends. However, before you get too excited about it, remember that you have to keep that beach-worthy bikini body you have slim and healthy. So, don't get carried away with the delicious array of foods, grilled or not during barbecues and weekend/holiday cookouts.

Let me present to you the Summer BBQ Survival Guide from SheKnows. The following diet tips will help you stay slim and proud to bare your sexy body throughout the summer months.

1. VEG OUT

• Load up on salad and veggies before you hit the grilled meats.


• Make eating your veggies convenient and grill them in aluminum foil alongside the other grilled goodies.

2. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE

• Drink a large glass of water before eating a meal.

3. GO SKINLESS

• Remove the skin from chicken and turkey.


• Choose skinless ground poultry meat for your burgers.


• Check the label and choose the poultry that is lowest in fat.

4. WATCH YOUR ALCOHOL

• Drink a glass of water in between each serving of alcohol to reduce alcohol intake.


• Eat a few bites of protein for every beer or glass of wine you drink to balance out the carbs.

5. DON'T LET THE NAME "SALAD" FOOL YOU

• Avoid potato and macaroni salads unless they are chock-full of chopped veggies and have been made with a low-fat dressing.


• Still, don’t overindulge on the carb-heavy fare.

6. USE WHOLE WHEAT BUNS

• And, eat your burger open-faced (one half of a bun) to even out your protein and carbohydrate ratio.


• Substitute pita bread for hot dog and burger buns.

7. USE YOUR HAND TO DETERMINE PORTION CONTROL

• Size of hand: Carbohydrates (complex carbohydrates like whole grain buns, pasta, brown rice, etc.)


• Size of palm: Protein including chicken, fish, beef, turkey, egg whites, low fat cheeses, and tofu


• Size of thumb: Fats and oils, nuts, avocado and olives

8. THINK FISH

• Try tuna steaks and salmon fillets – they hold up to grilling and are packed with lean protein.

9. DON'T DEPRIVE YOURSELF

• if you’re craving a cheeseburger, make a small meat patty and eat your burger open-faced with healthy sides like salad and grilled veggies.

10. GET MOVING

• When you’re finished eating, get up and play! Just step away from the picnic table.


• A game of horseshoes, Frisbee or bocce ball will help you burn extra calories and give you a fun way to bond with your family and friends.

In addition, I would like to share how to spice up your BBQs and burgers in a way that will minimize cancer-causing substances produced in flame-grilling meat at high temperatures. Simply add rosemary to meat and patties before grilling. It will neutralize compounds before they turn into harmful substances. If you don't like rosemary, simply mix thyme, chopped apples, sage, cherries, garlic or even pineapples.  They work just as well.

Another tip is to cook your meats at a lower temperature and turn them frequently on the grill. You see, it's not just about what you cook, but how you cook them, as well.

Image by mmmmmrob on Flickr