With BBQ season upon us here in Australia, we consulted our friends at Chief Active to get their tips on how to healthily your BBQ…
Summer is finally here and what that means is more eating and entertaining outdoors at the park, in your yard or down at the beach. The only problem with BBQs, are that they generally consist of high fat meats and carbohydrate dense sides which are delicious but not full of the nutrients our bodies crave.
But rather than saying no to a snag, juicy steak or some creamy potato salad, we recommend pimping up some epic green sides to accompany them to give you the vitamins, minerals and fibre to add balance to your meal.
- Pear & Rocket Salad. Although this salad might sound fancy, it’s really easy! Rocket has a bitter, peppery flavour, a perfect addition to a heavy meal to aid digestion. Thinly slice some pear and toss through a few handfuls of rocket, some parmesan, walnuts and a simple lemon and olive oil dressing.
- Green Goddess Dressing. A simple garden salad will be taken to the next level with this herby dressing. All you need to do is whizz up garlic, vinegar, avocado, lemon juice, parsley, basil, coriander, green onion, salt and pepper. Delish!
- Zest Up Steamed Veggies. Try mixing up your steamed veggie choice by adding a variety of colours and textures to your bowl. A known crowd pleaser is some broccoli, beans, cauliflower, carrot and squash. Then add a zesty lemon and olive oil dressing and fresh herbs to the bowl. Mix through well to give a pop of flavour to a potentially boring side.
- Wok Up Some Asian Veg. Yep, bring your bok choy, choy sum and gai lan out for some BBQ fun! Wok up a bunch of your favourite green leafy vegetables and dress with soy sauce, lime juice and sesame seeds. Paired perfectly with a fillet of salmon or some teriyaki chicken skewers, this dish will add some variety to your dinner table this summer.
- Ditch the Bun. Instead of the carb rich and sugar filled burger buns you get from the supermarket, why not try using a lettuce or cabbage leaf instead? Not only is this a much healthier option, it means you’re getting more veg in your meal.
- BBQ Asparagus. This is one green veggie that absolutely loves the heat! Toss some fresh asparagus spears on the grill until they start to get black char marks (be careful not to overcook!) Toss the cooked spears in a garlic vinegarette for a delicious side rich in prebiotic fibre which helps to feed the healthy bacteria in your gut.
- Kick Up The Kale. It’s no wonder Kale has become the latest victim of the superfood craze. It’s full of vitamins K, A and C for immune health and is great fresh or cooked. Try braising some kale, garlic and walnuts for a well-rounded side dish that gives a punch of flavour. You’ll forget you’re eating something so healthy.
- Green Mashed Potato. Love mashed potato? Who doesn’t right! Boost some green goodness into your mash by adding some mashed peas or pureed broccoli. This will help to reduce the starchy carbohydrates and boost your green intake. Plus it tastes pretty yummy!
- Green Pesto. Did you know pesto doesn’t just need to be basil? Whip up some creative combos like spinach, coriander and walnuts or parsley and cashews and pop a dollop on pretty much anything. From chicken to fish to roast potatoes to bread. Go pesto crazy!
Want even more greens? The team at Chief Active have put together a handy guide with even more ideas on how you can add even more greens into your diet. You can get it free here.
More about the author: Kate Campbell
Kate is a co-founder of health and fitness site Chief Active (www.chiefactive.com) and is passionate about delivering an honest and authentic approach to wellness. She loves that her business brings together a community of beautiful people and works to educate and inspire them to be the healthiest and happiest versions of themselves. She’s obsessed with smoothie bowls, puppies and peanut butter and sees the world as being full of endless possibilities. Find out how to be the best version of you here.