Barbecue Season: Grill Healthfully!

It's barbecue season! Grilling can be a healthy way of cooking, as long as you follow a few basic rules. Here are six tips on how to keep your food safe & healthy at your next barbecue:

1. Don't overcook your meat.  The higher your heat and longer your cooking time, the more likely your grilling can create cancer-causing compounds.

2. Choose healthy foods to grill: vegetables, veggie burgers, veggie dogs, chicken, fish

3. Use whole grain buns: Instead of your standard hamburger or hot dog bun, try a whole grain version. We recommend Ezekiel buns, which you can find at Whole Foods.

4. Easy on the condiments. Mayonnaise has 100 calories per tablespoon. Ketchup is a better choice, with only 20 calories per tablespoon, but mustard is the best choice with almost no calories.

5. Fill up on healthy side dishes. Steer clear of heavy salads such as potato salad, macaroni salad and coleslaw. Instead, opt for a healthy green salad, spinach salad or fruit salad.

6. Eat slowly while you enjoy conversations with friends and family. The more you talk, the less time you have to put food in your mouth!