Ready to fire up the grill this summer? You’re far from alone. Grilling is delicious, fun, and can save on your energy bills by keeping that cooking heat outdoors. If you’re looking to up your grill came, consider the following tips from Aramark and the American Heart Association (AHA).
Soak up the marinade
Start with a healthier marinade before you even light the grill. Healthier marinades contain herbs, spices & healthy oils. Reduce salt with wine vinegar, citrus-infused oil or a little mustard. Reduce added sugar with fruit purées. Try ripe mango or peach purée blended with dried cranberries or white raisins.
Rub on the spices
Spice rubs add flavor to meats, fish and chicken and have fewer calories than traditional BBQ sauces. Spice combinations are endless – from garlic, onion powder, dried basil, oregano, paprika, chili powder and cayenne to spicy Jerk chicken rub.
Burst of lemon everywhere
It’s easy to cut the amount of salt you use on your grilled meats or seafood by 50 percent. Just replace with lemony goodness. Replace each ½ teaspoon of salt with 5 teaspoons of juice and 1 teaspoon of zest and drizzle flavor directly over foods as they cook. How you tend to food while it’s on the grill can enhance and lock in flavor.
Start with veggies on the grill
Vegetables are great on the grill. Try them in Kabobs or grill them in slices to serve right next to fish, chicken or meat. Grilled veggies add excitement, freshness and flavor to any meal. Try grilling two or three for every main dish.
Pair fruits with entrées
Fruit is no longer just a snack or dessert. The sweet flavors of summer fruits help to enhance grilled seafood, chicken, or beef. Replacing other side dishes with fresh fruit is also a great way to add flavor with fewer calories. Add fruit to the plate and see the colors of summer in a whole new light.
Baste on the flavor
Use a basting brush and pack on additional flavor over the flame. Baste green veggies with olive oil and herb mixes.
Top it all off
Not all flavor is added on the grill, some can be added afterward. Try toppings that add healthy flavors to the plate like a fresh fruit compote or salsa, or top with finely chopped grilled veggies.
Source: Aramark, The American Heart Association
