Summer is here, and it’s time to fire up the grill. Barbecuing is a favourite pastime of the season, but all those outdoor meals can add up to extra calories fast. Here are five simple food swaps you can make for BBQ meals – each item is substituted with the same brand’s healthier counterpart. We’re betting your taste buds won’t even notice the difference, but your waistline certainly will.
Enjoy Healthier BBQ
What is healthy BBQ?
Try to cut calories and salt in my diet. This will not lose any flavour. The slight extra cost could be considered ok. We could probably save money on not having to buy new clothes if we added weight with the higher calorie foods.
BBQ-Poultry –Use Boneless, Seasoned & Skinless Chicken Breasts
Instead of. M&M Meat Shops Chicken Breast Grills,
Try...
M&M Meat Try Boneless Chicken Breasts, Seasoned & Skinless
Healthy payoff
Forget the lightly battered version and you’ll also be reducing your caloric, fat, and sodium intake. One breast contains 180 calories, 9 g fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, and 550 mg sodium, while the skinless version has 110 calories, 2 g fat, 0.5 g saturated fat, 480 mg sodium.
Using BBQ- Pickles (try Less salt pickels)
Instead of
Bick’s Sandwich Savers Tangy Dill Pickles
Try...
Bick’s Sandwich Savers 50% Less Salt Tangy Dill Pickles
The payoff
Though both options only have 3 calories and 0 g fat for every two slices, the regular version has 240 mg of salt. Opt for the less salty version and you reduce this burger topping’s sodium by half to 120 mg.
Beef-BBQ (lean version beef)
Instead of
President’s Choice Free from Angus Beef Burgers
Try...
President’s Choice Blue Menu Angus Thick & Juicy Beef Burgers
The payoff
This swap on the ultimate barbecue staple slashes the fat and sodium without sacrificing on the succulent taste. This Angus burger has 380 calories and 600 mg sodium. Go for the lean version and you’ll be consuming 200 calories, 370 mg sodium, and almost two-thirds less fat and saturated fat (12 g instead of 31 g and 4.5 g instead of 12 g respectively).
Healthy Salad Dressing (use Dressing Calorie Wise)
Instead of
Kraft Creamy Caesar Dressing,
Try...
Kraft Creamy Caesar Dressing Calorie Wise,
The payoff
If you want to indulge in a creamy dressing, it’s nice to know there’s a healthy version out there that actually tastes creamy. Though there’s 30 mg more sodium in the calorie wise version, it’s a worthy swap since calories and fat are significantly reduced (60 calories down to 30 calories, 6 g fat down to 2 g, and 1 g saturated fat down to 0.5 g in every tablespoon).
Healthy Snacks (Low Sodium Bite Tostitos)
Instead of
Tostitos Bite Size Rounds Tortilla Chips
Try...
Tostitos Low Sodium Bite Size Rounds Tortilla Chips
The payoff
It’ll be the fresh taste of your homemade salsa and guacamole dips that shine through and not the overpowering taste of a much-too-salty chip – when you make the right choice. Both versions of this tortilla chip contain the same amount of calories and fat (260 calories and 13 g fat), but, at 140 mg sodium, the low sodium version beats the regular 200 mg sodium version hands down.
