5 Tips for a Healthy BBQ Meal

Watch the Sauce

Traditional barbecue sauce can be full of salt and sugar, causing it to add unwanted calories. When making your own sauce, lighten it up by swapping sugar for a sugar substitute and adding liquid smoke flavouring.

Looking for a recipe? Try this:

1 can (400 g) chopped tomatoes
75ml unsweetened apple juice
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
¼ teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Combine the tomatoes and their juices with the apple juice, sugar, vinegar and Tabasco in a saucepan. Bring to the boil over moderate heat, then simmer gently for about 10 minutes or until rich and thick. Keep hot.

If you’re in need of some pork to go with it, try this recipe for  char-grilled pork in barbecue  sauce.

Skip the Mayo

Avoid mayonnaise-heavy sides by opting for fresh potato salad or sweet, tangy coleslaw. Can’t resist that creamy texture? Try a classic macaroni salad, but opt for low- or non-fat mayo, or plain Greek yogurt, to keep it healthy and flavourful.

Marinate, Marinate!

The simplest way to add flavour to meats is to marinate them overnight. Simply coat your choice of protein with a delicious homemade or store-bought marinade and refrigerate overnight in a large plastic bag. As soon as the grill is ready, take the meat out of the bag and place directly on the grill.

Making your own marinade? Try our soy and sesame marinade.

Avoid Processed Meat

Skip hotdogs and sausages, which can contain loads of added salt, fat, and calories. Instead, visit your butcher or meat counter to purchase fresh ground beef, turkey, or chicken and make your own hamburgers or chicken burgers. Also, consider grilling fish for great flavour sans saturated fat.

Trim The Fat And The Skin

Trim off excess fat and skin from meats prior to grilling to keep calorie and fat counts low. If you rely on good marinades and healthy sauces for added flavour, you won’t even notice it’s gone!