Healthy Grilling Isn't a Fairy Tale

Most of us could benefit from eating less unhealthy fat and sugar, and more organic, fresh whole food. But it’s also summertime, when it’s easiest and fun to just throw a couple steaks or burgers on the grill, indulge in rich topping and sauces, and dig in. Whether you’re watching your weight, concerned about your health, or just want to eat better, you’ll be relieved to know that there are plenty of ways to grill up delicious, healthy meals for you and your family and friends. New York Hospitality Group’s Great American BBQ Company is working to help BBQ-lovers do just that.

“By making small adjustments to ingredients and the way you use them, you can make a meal much more healthy, without sacrificing the great flavor we all love and expect from food off the grill,” said New York Hospitality Group’s Executive Chef Joe Sasso.

Here, Chef Joe shares his top tips for making your BBQ healthy and delicious:

1. Choose Your Meat Wisely
It costs a little more, but your health is an important investment. Consider grass-fed beef with no more than 15% fat, dry-aged steak, heritage breed pork, organic poultry, wild-caught fish rather than farmed. It tastes better, and it’s better for you.

2. Rethink the Main Course
Consider the meat on your plate as a side dish, rather than the main event. Prepare a hearty serving of grilled veggies, with 3 or 4 oz of high-quality grilled meat as a complement. When making kabobs, put a bunch of veggies between each bite of meat.

3. Leave Your Veggie Comfort Zone
Don’t think about steamed broccoli or buttered green beans as your only options – there are some really fun and delicious vegetable recipes out there. Consider grilled artichokes with roasted garlic and lemon aioli; grilled corn bites tossed with cilantro, lime, chili flakes, oil and queso fresco; grilled whole red peppers, peeled and pureed, with a touch of BBQ sauce, as a healthy low-sugar basting alternative; grilled whole leeks and sweet potatoes with salsa verde; grilled asparagus with chimichurri sauce; or homemade salsa made with grilled jalapenos, scallions and tomatoes. Check out online recipe sites to get more ideas.

4. Taste the Sea
Go beyond grilled fish and shrimp, and cook up some soft shell crab, oysters, clams, calamari, octopus, or sardines.

5. Put Veggies Where Your Bread Was
Serve your burger between two halves of a big, ripe tomato; make a cauliflower “steak,” and serve with green peppercorn vinaigrette; wrap your grilled veggies or meats in a lettuce, rather than a flour or corn tortilla.

6. What’s In A Sauce?
Give up sauces and dressings laden with extra fat and sugar, and make your own from pureed veggies, like asparagus, scallions, red peppers, tomatoes. Mix and match and add your favorite spices.

7. Go Out With a Bang
Don’t blow your healthy meal with a killer dessert. Char-grill some sweet fruit, like pineapple slices, peaches, mangos, watermelon, apples, oranges, plums or ripe, juicy pears. Toast some lightly-buttered slices of angel food cake on the grill, and serve with a “salsa” made from fresh berries. Yum!

The Great American BBQ Shack, located alongside Sam’s of Gedney Way at 54 Gedney Way in White Plains, NY, is open until Labor Day: Monday – Saturday from 12 to 9 pm, and Sunday 4 to 9 pm. Reservations are/are not required. Call 914-949-0978 for details, or visit http://www.samsofgedneyway.com/bbq-shack to view the complete menu.