When a warm weekend or a Bank Holiday weekend comes around, one of the first things we think of is a delicious BBQ!
They are the perfect opportunity to hang out with friends, family and spoil yourself with food and drink but we also know that overindulging can cause you to wake up the next morning not feeling your best and perhaps regretting the less-than-healthy choices you’ve made.
So if you have a BBQ or party to attend, don’t panic! The Slimming Clinic has some great tips and ideas to help you stay healthy at your next BBQ.
Meat Madness
At a BBQ we all know that meat is definitely the centre of attention.
Good quality meat is a must. If it’s a bring your own meat BBQ, then you don’t have a problem.
However good cuts of meat are expensive and if you’re hosting a BBQ then this can become an issue. Nevertheless meat that is organic and grass-fed is still a better option then processed hot dogs and burgers as they’re very high in bad fats!
If you do decide to opt for steak cuts or other meats instead of the usual burgers and pasta salads, just stick it on a skewer and cook to perfection! By keeping away from the processed stuff you’re saving yourself from consuming a lot of extra calories and fat!
Let’s get spicy
We often forget that a lot of our marinades and sauces are high in fat, sugar and salt. Why not try using spice blends as an alternative to sauce marinades. If done right these spice blends can pack a punch of flavour in every bite!
Some tasty spice mixes you could use are the Harrisa spice blend, famous from the middle east, containing; chillies, cumin, paprika, coriander and garlic. Just rub this on your skewered meat cuts and marinade for as long as you want.
If you still want to use a liquid marinade, try using extra virgin olive oil as an alternative to other oils. Infusing the meat with citrus juice such as orange will help add a natural sweetness to the sauce without the processed sugars! A flavoursome marinade mix includes extra virgin olive oil, citrus juice, garlic, and fresh herbs. Honey or Agave could also be used to add some sweetness.
Word of warning: be careful of salt! A lot of marinades and sauces have a high salt content to add flavour. Stay away from these as they will cause bloating and water retention in your tummy.
Get Creative!
You can pretty much put anything on a skewer and it will work! The meat on a stick concept not only works for meat but veggies and fruits as well! So don’t forget to experiment!
Skewering cuts of beef, chicken and pork is a healthier way of consuming meat at your BBQ. Add a spark to your skewers with different sauce options, such as BBQ, guacamole and sriracha or different seasoning options, like Peri Peri!
Try grilling veggies and fruit for your vegetarian and vegan friends, or incorporate them in to your meaty options to get your 5-a-day in!
Moving away from the ordinary mushroom caps and meat options, why not give summer squash, pineapple or zucchini a shot on the skewer. If you’re a cheese lover you could even grill slices of halloumi!
Refresh and Rehydrate
As we all know it’s important to stay hydrated, especially when the sun is out. Try opting out of the sugary and alcoholic drinks and go for pure and simple water instead! If this is too much of a challenge, you could try some delicious infused water recipes to spruce up your normal glass of H2O.
Some popular recipes include:
-Strawberry, lemon and basil
-Thyme and ginger
-Watermelon, mint and jalapeno
-Peach and raspberry
Another alternative is homemade iced tea, sugar free of course! Easy and quick to make, it only takes brewing some teabags for 20 – 30 minutes, adding fruits, veggies and herbs and refrigerating until chilled to make these delicious concoctions.
If you do decide to have some alcoholic beverages, make a plan!
Try to skip the sugary mixers and go for gin with slimline tonic or a paleo margarita (tequila and lime juice on the rocks). Make an effort to limit yourself to a number of drinks to reduce the amount of calories you will consume not only from food but alcohol too. *
Sweet buns
If you’re craving a burger or have no other options, try using wholemeal burger buns or vegetable based burger buns and wraps. Sweet potato wraps only contain 100 calories; they’re also low carb and packed with fibre.
If you’re staying away from bread, try wrapping your meat in romaine lettuce leaves for a delicious and crunchy taste.
Healthy salads
As we know BBQ’s are full of a variety of salads! However, just because we call them salads it doesn’t mean they’re always healthy. So why not bring along a HEALTHY salad to help with those cravings for a potato or pasta salad.
Try out a quick avocado, cucumber and tomato salad or a carrot, celery and cabbage slaw. These recipes are not only nutritious but very easy to whip up.
Chips and Crisps
If you’re craving something crunchy, try making some kale chips or sweet potato fries. You could also try carrot and pepper sticks with hummus to curb those cravings.
Sweet Treats
Are there any healthy dessert alternatives? Of course there is!
By this point in the BBQ your tummy should be full with loads of fantastic bits and bobs, but if you’re still craving something sweet why not try some healthy options instead of indulging on those sweet treats.
Here are a few healthy choices;
-Grilled cinnamon apples with peanut butter
-Ice lollies made from summer fruits. Add a protein source like Greek yogurt or nut butter to get the most nutrition out of them! You could also add some veggies like spinach or even spices such as vanilla extract or cinnamon to pack those smoothie ice lollies with flavour.
-‘Nice cream’, this is a banana based ice cream using blended bananas and a couple other ingredients to make a creamy fake ice cream. Try blending up a frozen banana and frozen mango with some maple syrup and coconut milk until smooth and creamy. Sprinkle some chopped macadamia nuts and serve immediately!
If you want more support when it comes to losing weight, what to eat and how to move more, let us see how we can help.
Our weight loss doctors are here to support you in any way you need them and are able to work on goals that not only incorporate losing weight, but feeling incredible about yourself along the way!
Find out how much you can love yourself on the journey to better health with the support of weight loss doctors and experts.
Give us a call 0800 917 9334!
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