Healthy grilling does not mean that you deprive yourself of everything good and can never enjoy grilling again. Instead, it's about finding alternatives that seem easy to implement, while at the same time having a better effect on health. Today, there are plenty of tips for eating healthy and making better food choices. Below we have therefore listed 9 things that you can do to grill both well and healthy!
1) Clean the grill
Always keep the grill clean when you use it and make it a habit to clean it after every use. This prevents fat and food residues from accumulating in the grill that you do not want to get into you when you eat.
2) Vegetarian grilling
A very simple way to grill healthily is to skip the meat every now and then and pay more attention to vegetables (veggie power!). Eating more vegetables is not only good for your health, but also for the environment and your wallet. Vegetables such as mushrooms, carrots, asparagus, pumpkin and peppers do especially well on the grill and can really lift a meal. Don't forget to glaze your vegetables with a little olive oil before grilling to prevent them from drying out.
3) Make your own sauce and marinade
Grill healthier by making your own sauce and marinade! Most store-bought sauces and marinades are usually filled with lots of sugar and additives. A more convenient alternative is therefore to make your own sauce from scratch. This often gets better. For example, test to make your own mayonnaise, barbecue sauce, honey marinade and more with ingredients you already have at home!
4) Choose charcoal with ecolabel
When grilling with charcoal grill, always try to choose charcoal marked with Good Environmental Choice. Eco-labelled charcoal has no hazardous chemical additives and comes from controlled deforestation.
5) Portion Control
We know.. grilled is just so delicious, so it's hard to stop yourself and not take portion after portion. But no stomach feels good from overeating, so this is about exercising self-control. Also, getting used to healthy grilling will help your brain create new associations with what grilling means. For example, you can see grilling as an alternative “that you only treat yourself to once in a while” and instead as a fully-fledged alternative as cooking a healthy meal over the stove. Also don't forget that you can grill all year round, the grill is not just something exclusive for the spring and summer months.
6) Choose lean proteins
When grilling meats, try to avoid processed meats such as sausages and burgers which are generally high in salt, fat and calories. Instead, invest in more lean proteins, such as e.g. chicken, fish or turkey. These meats are not only low in calories but also have a high protein value. Brush the meat with a good herb rub or marinade for extra flavour.
7) Grill your meat well
For healthy grilling, it is important to get the right interior temperature. This is true no matter what meat you grill, but is especially important with chicken and pork. Check the temperature of the meat with a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat and always follow the recommended grilling temperatures.
8) Replace the side dish with a healthier alternative
An easy way to grill healthily is to choose a healthier side dish. For example, if you grill hamburgers, why not opt for whole wheat hamburger bread? This is just as good and provides extra fiber and taste! If you're grilling potatoes, try replacing them with sweet potatoes that have significantly more antioxidants and don't raise your glycemic index as much. Or go one step further and replace the carbohydrates with a fresh salad. There are many good and useful alternatives that you can try!
9) Skip the baking and place a fruit dessert on the grill instead!
If you've never tried grilling fruit on the grill, we really recommend you try this! When grilling fruit, the natural sugar is caramelized over high heat, which gives the fruit extra sweetness and flavor. In addition, fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins. Good tips for grilling fruit are e.g. pineapple, pears, bananas and apples.
