Fresh

5 Tips for a Healthier Summer Barbeque

It’s time to fire up your grills. The summer season is now in full swing! Backyard barbeques are a low key way to gather family and friends, but it’s not always the healthiest. I’ve have a few simple tips and tricks to ensure a healthier summer barbeque so that you can enjoy the party without compromising healthy habits.

Go bun-less. It’s not a barbeque without the classic hamburger and hotdog, right? Skipping the processed, fiber-less bun will cut down on the carbohydrates that quickly turn to sugar in the body. This will leave you full and satisfied, instead of bloated and overly full. Lettuce buns are a popular alternative in burger chains that you should consider offering at your backyard barbeque. Iceberg lettuce works especially well for this and provides a nice, fresh crunch with every bite!

Focus on the perfect trifecta. You’ve likely heard me talk about this before and I’m going to talk about it again. Aim to get the perfect trifecta of lean protein, fiber and healthy fats on your plate to ensure that you leave the party full and satisfied. Eyeing something that’s a little more decadent? Fill up on the perfect trifecta, first, then indulge to create more of a party-on-the-side situation rather than risking overindulgence by diving in when you’re most hungry.

Offer to bring something light and fresh. Sometimes you can’t always control what’s going to be offered to you at a party. I get it! Offer to bring a light and healthy side dish – such as a summer salad topped with deliciously sweet berries, fruit salad or try this protein-rich pasta salad. It can be made ahead of time and will quickly become a go-to.

Practice simple swaps in your favorite recipes. There’s (usually) a swap for that. Simple swaps are my secret for enjoying my favorite foods, with a healthier twist. A few easy swaps that you might find yourself making in summer barbeque recipes include:

Make a refreshing infused beverage. No need to add sweetener when you’ve got fresh herbs and fruit to flavor your glass. Not only is an infused water or unsweet tea healthier, it’s pretty too. Some of my favorite fresh infusions include: cucumbers and honeydew, fresh berries and mint, and ginger and lemon.

Hope your summer is filled with lots of sunshine and healthy parties!


Carly Paige, health coach and cooking instructor, believes that healthy doesn’t have to be hard. Her mission is to show you simple swaps in and out of the kitchen to elevate your everyday that will transform your health. Carly is the author of Simply Swapped Everyday, a healthy guide and cookbook with over 75 plant-powered recipes and founder of FitLiving Eats – a place where she shares nutritious recipes and how-to guides.

2 Comments

I’m looking for my account. I’ve been a member of MVP since it was called East Hills owed by Ben Emdin. I was last told I’d been grandfathered into MVP even though I’ve not been able to participate for months on and off due to various surgeries. My sons all took tennis lessons for years. The youngest, Greg Snapper started at 4 and played D1 tennis for Butler. Bill Pryszby and Jorge were all the boys coaches. I hope you can restore my account. I was also supposed to be enrolled in SilverSneakers and can’t find that either. I hope you can help.

Comments are closed.

Find Your location and Schedule Your Tour Today!