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Beat the BBQ

Beat the BBQ

Beat the BBQ

BBQ does NOT stand for Big Belly Quiver, so that shouldn’t be the outcome of this great island tradition!

While beach barbecuing is practically a way-of-life here, did you know that the average barbecue meal exceeds 1500 calories? That’s almost an entire day’s worth of calories in one meal! Yikes!

Now we’re not about to tell you to live a life of salads and fruit smoothies while your friends are chowing on kalua pork, but with a few small changes to your barbecue menu you can turn your beach day into the perfect opportunity for weight loss:

On the Grill: Believe it or not, grilling is actually a very healthy way to cook meat. Of course the type of meat that you choose will make all of the difference. Burgers and hot dogs are traditional barbecue meats, though they aren’t the healthiest. Try the following:

* Choose lean cuts of beef, pork or poultry
* Marinade with low fat dressing
* Make hamburgers with extra-lean ground beef or turkey
* Take the skin off chicken before grilling
* Grill up some mahimahi or ono
* Forego the meat and grill veggie burgers

Side Dishes: This is where most people run into trouble. Barbecue side dishes are typically filled with one thing – fat. Creamy coleslaw and potato salads can hold as much as 15 grams of fat per serving. Try the following:

* Replace the mayo in your salads with low-fat mayo
* Serve fresh salad with light vinaigrette
* Try whole-grain macaroni for your pasta salad
* Grill up corn on the cob or make veggie kabobs
* Put out a veggie tray with low fat dip

Drinks: Most people don’t realize that beverages play a big role in summer weight gain. Margaritas, beer, Coke, and punch all contain tons of empty calories. Try the following:

* Drink water, it is always your healthiest option
* Stick with light beer (see, compromise, not sacrifice!)
* If you have to have a soft drink, stick with diet
* Brew unsweetened ice tea and serve it with lemon

Dessert: Yes, there are ways to satisfy your sweet tooth while staying healthy. Think outside of the box instead of turning to the typical fattening options like ice cream, pie, cake or cookies. Try the following:

* Grill mango, banana, and pineapple on kabobs
* Stick with sorbet instead of ice cream
* Replace peach pie with grilled peach halves
* Choose light ice cream over regular

Remember, it’s about compromise, NOT sacrifice! And yes, it’s ok to splurge every once in a while. Enjoy yourself. Just keep in mind that by taking a few of the above suggestions you can enjoy great food while getting back into great shape.

Want to shape up even more this summer? Call or stop by for a posture analysis or a fitness consultation!