It's summertime, which means those hickory wood chips are burning in the backyard.
I have a lot of fond memories of family members gathered around the grill in the backyard. The men talking trash about the latest football or basketball stats while drinking beers, women inside with their tea chatting about the latest family gossip, the children running around outside in the grass fields.
I also have memories of hanging out with friends, chatting about our latest life updates, whether kids, relationships, work, dreams and goals, or who made the potato salad (note, potato salad is sacred at a cookout).
But, here's something interesting that I never gave much of a thought to until a few years; having a BBQ is actually a great way to enjoy a good meal with others, while also keeping things a little bit healthier.
Grilling is actually one of the recommended methods of making a delicious meal without adding extra, often unnecessary calories, to a meal. Grilling helps to bring out the natural flavors of a dish, and those grill marks that you make on your food makes it more attractive to look at when you eat.
The best part is that grilling isn't just for meat. You can grill your fruits and vegetables as well (have you ever had a grilled peach before?), so if you are vegetarian or vegan, you have some options and ideas for yourself as well.
Being able to grill your food provides a wide range of meal options. Some of your favorite dishes can be thrown on the grill. And if you have a George Foreman grill, you can actually watch the grill cook the fat off your food. So you can feel good about the food that you are eating.
Here is a grilling tip; keep one side of your grill cooler than the other. That way, when you cook your food, as it finishes cooking, you can move your food over to the cooler side, keeping it warm, but not risk overcooking the food. Remember, all food cooks differently, so you want to plan for that when you are grilling too.
We can't forget about the side dishes too. Typically, you have potato salad, baked beans, some vegetables like collard greens or green beans, and some dessert. Fun fact, you can actually make your whole BBQ on the grill. Think about it - toss some broccoli on the grill, and your fresh peaches too (I'm telling you, grilling peaches will change your life) ad you got your whole meal done.
We about the love of BBQ, so get the grill going and slap some food on it!
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