5 BBQ Ideas For A Healthier Summer

We’re just over halfway through British summertime, can you believe it? Summer officially ends on the 21^st September in England, which leaves us hopeful that we will have another day of sunshine. As soon as the temperature gets above 16°C, we feel like it’s a British tradition to start planning a BBQ. Any excuse, right?

BBQ cuisine can cause a slight hiccup in your ‘summer body’ plans if you’re not thinking about what you eat. Don’t worry though, because we’ve got your back! Below are 5 alternative ideas for food that would work perfectly on the grill, without causing too much of a stir with your diet. 

Replace Your Beef Burger With Turkey

Burgers are a staple at any BBQ! You may be disappointed to know that the majority are not that good for you. As well as being high in calories, ground beef is also high in saturated fat. To keep the fat count low, try swapping out your traditional beef burger with turkey burgers. Turkey can tend to dry out when grilled, so combat this problem by adding some chopped veggies! Our personal favourites at Mankind HQ are celery, onion and green pepper! Try taking it one step further by replacing the buns with portobello mushrooms. This might sound a bit strange, but trust me – it’s delicious!

If Beef Is A Must – Try Stuffed Peppers

Now I know that some people are reluctant to neglect beef, it’s essential at many BBQ’s. If you want to keep beef in your selection, try creating some stuffed peppers! You can fill them with whatever you want, however we recommend dicing up some sirloin steak as it’s lower in saturated fat. It’s the perfect opportunity to get creative and a good way to please any vegetarian guests by ditching the meat all together.

Swap Out Your Chicken Drumsticks For Skewers

Chicken drumsticks are an easy finger-food option for a BBQ, they grill easily and can be eaten with minimal mess. Plus, they’re generally not that bad! Try making it even better by switching it out with chicken skewers. Using chicken breast without the skin helps to reduce the fat content, whilst still keeping the same flavour. Thread chicken and vegetables alternately onto the skewers and grill until done, it’s seriously that easy! One thing we love about this option is how adaptable it is, you can omit the meat all together to make this totally vegan.

Grill Fruit For A Sweet Treat

The possibilities are endless with this one. You can grill most fruits which would create a perfect fruit salad, fit for any BBQ. To save yourself the mess, thread your choice of fruit onto a skewer and grill until warmed through. Try taking your fruit up a notch by adding honey and wrapping in foil before placing on the grill. It adds a lovely sweetness, without adding many additional calories. Our favourite fruits to grill at Mankind HQ are definitely banana, pineapple and peaches! 

White Sangria Is The Way Forward

If you’re looking for a refreshing alcoholic beverage to go with your BBQ, why not try making a White Sangria. In general, white wines tend to be lower in calories than reds. Sangria cocktails are usually filled with sugar and other alcoholic additions so we suggest omitting the added sugar and replacing with chopped fruit. We recommend trying apple, strawberry and pear, but the possibilities are endless. Top up your sangria with soda water to give it an added fizz.