Red, White, and Barbeque: Get Grilling this July!

Can you believe that over 100 million hot dogs are eaten on the Fourth of July? While hot dogs and hamburgers are classic foods that shouldn’t be left out of your celebration, there are so many other wonderful foods that can be added to the festivities. Fire up the barbeque, not only on the fourth but all month long for National Grilling Month!

Grilling during the hot summer months is an excellent alternative to standing in a hot kitchen all night. Not only are you decreasing the labor put into the meal, but there are also many health benefits of grilling. From nutrient retention to decreased saturated fat intake, there are just so many reasons to bring the cooking outside.

After a few weeks of grilling, you may become bored of the typical barbeque grub. What’s great about grilling is that you can cook almost anything on a barbeque! Let your imagination take over and cook up something extraordinary.

Grilling for Your Health

There is nothing less appealing than the idea of standing over a hot stove on a sweltering summer day. Not only is the kitchen as hot as an oven, but you are missing out on the last few rays of sunshine in the day. While beating the heat is one reason to burn some charcoal outside and get the barbeque going, there are also health benefits associated with grilling food; here are just a few:

Vitamin D3: When you’re outside, your skin is exposed to sunlight which assists in the synthesis of vitamin D3. Your body uses Vitamin D to aid in the absorption of calcium and phosphorus which are essential to bone health. Just don’t forget to put on your sunblock!

Less Fat: The barbeque can be great at retaining moisture, which means that your food will need less butter and other fats to season it. Another great thing about grilling is that when meat is placed on the barbeque, the fat drips off, which means the food you eat will have less saturated fats. A decrease in the intake of saturated fats is associated with reduced cholesterol levels and better overall for the heart.

Nutrient Retention: Cooking meat on the grill can lead to improved retention of riboflavin and thiamine in the food. These nutrients are both B-Vitamins that are used in various metabolic pathways within the body and are crucial to normal bodily function.

Thinking Outside the Bun

Now that the grill is hot and ready to go, you may be wondering what food to put on it! Of course, you can’t go wrong with hot dogs and hamburgers, however, there is so much more you can do!

Here are some great grilling ideas for you to try:

Pizza: You can make delicious pizza at home and all you need is some dough, cheese, and your favorite toppings.

Vegetable Kabob: Chop up your favorite vegetables into cubes, thread them threw a skewer, and plop them on the grill. You can even alternate with a block of tofu for some added protein.

Summer Salad: Before finely chopping your veggies, grill them, then slice them up to add to a refreshing summer salad.

Scallops with Tomatoes: Lightly coat the scallops and tomatoes in olive oil and season to your liking, throw them on the grill, and enjoy!

Street Corn: Although corn on the cob is a traditional barbeque food, street corn is a whole different dish! Season your corn before putting it on the grill to elevate this classic side dish.

There are hundreds of recipes that you can try this July, get creative.

Your Turn to Action: What is your favorite food to grill? Let me know in the comments below.