A Healthy BBQ for Memorial Day!

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A healthy BBQ? Just because it’s Memorial Day doesn’t mean you have to abandon your healthy eating habits! We’ve got a full menu of delicious and healthy items to eat, complete with recipes!

 

Last week I wrote about my baked Chicken Wing obsession, but that was just the beginning. These bad boys are perfect for serving at your healthy BBQ and you won’t feel guilty eating them. You can find my recipe HERE. Another favorite of mine is to buy chicken legs and grill them up, rather than bake them. You can grill them by following the same chicken wings recipe. Just make sure you marinate your chicken legs overnight. They’ll retain so much flavor and be amazing on the grill. Don’t like the bones? Skewer chicken or fish. Again, you can use the same recipe as the chicken wings and marinate them overnight. If you’re hosting a BBQ or going over to a friends, marinating and grilling chicken or fish is a great healthy alternative to burgers and hot dogs.

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Often times I will reach for a creamy potato or pasta salad at a BBQ, but healthier versions are so much more fun to eat. I’ve made slimmed down pasta salads in the past that are just as delicious. One of my favorites is this one HERE that I made a few weeks ago. This asparagus and arugula salad is super yummy. The only thing I did different was add more spices and an extra tablespoon of olive oil. My spices of choice were a tablespoon of garlic salt, pepper and a teaspoon of ginger citrus rub from William Sonoma.

 

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Another great way to healthy up your BBQ is by grilling veggies. Potatoes are great on the grill and you can really get creative with how you cook them! A favorite of mine is to chop them up into squares and then chop up some of your favorite veggies, onions and peppers work great. Make a tin foil pouch, put it all inside and season the potatoes and veggies together. Make sure you use just a little oil as well. They’ll take at least 20 minutes on your grill and are an amazing side dish, or if you’re skipping meat they’ll definitely fill you up as the main course!

Let’s not forget that corn on the cob is also great on the grill! I love de-husking mine, seasoning it with olive oil, black pepper and garlic salt, then wrapping it in tin foil. You grill them for 15 minutes, turning every five minutes. That’s it! Super easy. Who doesn’t love corn on the cob? The best part is, it’s not time consuming at all. You can socialize and have a drink in between grilling.

 

 

I can’t imagine a BBQ without some chips and dip! This is always my downfall at a BBQ, so I pace myself. I definitely indulge a bit more in the chips, so I make sure my dip is healthy. Last week I dropped my homemade Baba Ganoush recipe. It’s perfect to serve at your BBQ. You know what else? You can totally serve it with veggies and homemade pita chips. That’s right, don’t buy the bag. Instead bake your own chips. It’s super easy, all you do is cut up pita bread and either spray olive oil, butter spray or put traditional butter on top. I like to add garlic powder as well. Just make sure you don’t overcook them. You will not feel guilty at all eating these homemade pita chips. They’ll also impress your guests!

I know most of you still want your sweets for dessert. To keep things healthy I would make a delicious fruit salad, but my man informed me that this is no dessert. Here is a delicious berry cobbler that we dropped earlier this week: TRY IT! It’s not healthy, but its amazing. Make sure you have ice cream, because if you’re going to indulge in this you should go all the way!

If you’re not throwing your own BBQ, then bring a dish to contribute to a potluck BBQ this Memorial Day and summer! Make sure you make a large portion, because when you keep things healthier and maintain the flavor, everyone wants a bite. Enjoy your healthy eating!

 

 

Mandi Mellen is Lead Editor, Staff Writer, and Featured Vlogger at BuzzChomp. She’s an actress, writer, and producer. Get lost in her youtube comedy channel PillowTalk TV. Follow her on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, or Instagram