Is eating a low carb bbq meal even worth it?

Well to some this sounds unappealing considering all the yummy flavors (aka high sugars) that are usually linked to a good old fashioned bbq.

How can you truly enjoy the taste of a low carb bbq meal?

So let’s face it . . . ’tis the season!  You’ve likely pulled out your bbq by now.  I mean with the warmer summer weather it’s pretty hard to avoid this summer grilling staple.

I actually wanted to post about barbecuing because my husband and I were invited to our friend’s house last weekend and we all got to talking about how hard summer can be for us dieters.

We all agreed; once summer hits it gets hard to stay on track with your diet regime.  Let’s just see . . . hmmm there’s the parties, the picnics, the adventure theme parks, the weddings and the list goes on.

Click Here to see the Diet I follow & Enjoy Summer Cravings!

Anyways, this is how we then got on to the heated topic about barbecuing.  Luckily I revealed how you can actually make a low carb bbq and still retain a delicious and healthy, well-balanced meal without it completely ruining your diet.

How you ask?

You just gotta follow these 7 basic “good grilling” rules:

1.  Choose fish and white meats over red.  These alternatives are healthier and contain a lot less fat.  If you haven’t grilled fish before you MUST!  Trout bbq, salmon, halibut, tuna.  Each is simple yet absolutely delicious.  You need to remember to wrap it in aluminum foil and bring out some nice flavors with chopped onions, garlic and other fine herbs.

2.  Increase the veggies on your plate.  Have fun with kabobs made up of a variety of vegetables.  Think color too   Some great grilling veg include peppers, onions, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and mushrooms.  Tip: drizzle some EVOO (extra virgin olie oil), sprinkle some salt & pepper, and tap a little garlic powder over your kabobs to bring out the flavors.

3.  Halve your buns and keep them whole wheat.  Do you ever find that when you eat a burger half of the bun always seems to shrink?  lol at least this happens to me!  I like to use half a large whole wheat big kaiser or Italian and layer my toppings so that I don’t even need the top bun.

4.  Stick with EVOO and say good-bye to the butter. Period.

5.  Ever had a veggie dog or burger?  OK, to many of you guys out there you are probably still thinking “no way”. . . but they’ve actually improved so much over the years.  So many more guys (and women) are happy to opt for this version since they actually taste delicious.  Plus, they have approx 13 grams of protein. 8 grams of fiber, and very little fat compared to their carnivorous counterparts.

6.  Choose your condiments with caution.  I really don’t know how else to say it.  I mean I know it’s so hard to completely avoid and to be honest I do use a little.  Just watch your serving and especially the mayo.   If you opt for the light mayonnaise you will save 70 calories per teaspoon and 9 gr. of FAT.

7.  The salad bar.  OK, so you see the word “salad” and you think “healthy”, right? WRONG.  There are sooooo many types of salads and unless you have made it from scratch you haven’t a clue what hidden calories are in them.  First off, avoid macaroni, coleslaw, or potato salads.  Think green with light vinaigrette dressings instead.

Here’s a snapshot of the basic Nutritional Facts

for your low carb BBQ needs:

So thanks for reading everyone and if you follow my tips you can be sure to enjoy your low carb bbq and maintain your healthy diet.

To Your Health,

Sara