Best things to eat at BBQ?!

clafairy1984
clafairy1984 Posts: 253 Member
in Food and Nutrition
BBQ season is here, and it seems like every weekend something is happening. Finding it hard not to over indulge. My solution has been to eat lightly for the rest of the day, and allow myself a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

Replies

  • itsjustdawn
    itsjustdawn Posts: 1,073 Member
    BBQ season is here, and it seems like every weekend something is happening. Finding it hard not to over indulge. My solution has been to eat lightly for the rest of the day, and allow myself a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

    Make that a treat day
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,003 Member
    I do a big workout before hand. I will also bring some less calorific stuff to toss on the grill. Prawns, scallops, asparagus, courgette.
  • jtm4210
    jtm4210 Posts: 108 Member
    I suppose it depends on who is cooking and whether they are likely to have somewhat healthier options up for grabs. Not that burgers are by definition unhealthy - could be anywhere on the spectrum between the frozen-10-for-a-quid-possible-horse variety or £5-a-pop-organic-lean-Aberdeen-Angus.

    Fish is always a great healthy BBQ option, though you would probably want to get a BBQ fish grill as they tend to fall apart. When I BBQ I usually have a mixture of the following:

    Salmon or tuna steaks/fillets
    Whole mackerel/herring/sea bass/trout
    Steaks - I like rib-eyes but a more lean rump or fillet would be fine too
    Teriyaki kebabs made with chicken thighs and loads of vegetables
    Corn on the cobs (with soy sauce - optional)
    Halloumi and vegetable kebabs

    Or, if you have a BBQ with a lid, slow-cook a butterflied leg of lamb or pork shoulder. Looks very impressive when you bring that to the table!

    Instead of potato salad I'll just do steamed new potatoes and have condiments on the side, so sort of a DIY potato salad for those who want it. And for dessert, BBQ'd fresh pineapple is amazing with a dollop of Greek yoghurt or vanilla ice cream.

    No suggestions for avoiding beer though I'm afraid...

    Enjoy the summer!
  • DR2501
    DR2501 Posts: 661 Member
    Tuna steaks are great on the BBQ, but you can't beat a good burger. If you're unsure, why not make your own burgers and take them with you? No one will mind throwing extra on the BBQ. I just roll mince into a burger patty myself, nothing added except a little pepper - awesome.

    BTW no need to skip the bun unless you're intolerant, just get wholewheat buns instead?
  • rodduz
    rodduz Posts: 251 Member
    I'll eat what I want, if it's a one off BBQ... you'll not see me counting calories on those days, there's more to life!

    If I know I have one planned on a Saturday I'll throw a mini-fast (600 cal) day or two in to the week leading up to it.
  • MichaelRobinson1994
    MichaelRobinson1994 Posts: 83 Member
    Make the bbq a treat/cheat and indulge!

    Had a bbq on Saturday, had 2 chinese chicken wings, 4 chicken legs, 2 burgers (in buns) and a bit of salad...no guilt!
  • teranga79
    teranga79 Posts: 202 Member
    jtm4210 - that all sounds amazing, can I come to your next bbq please?? :)
  • gypsy_spirit
    gypsy_spirit Posts: 2,107 Member
    It's one meal. Go, eat regular portions of the foods you like, log it and move on. This is always going to be part of your life. Learn to work these things in to your calories.

    Have fun!
  • sun_fish
    sun_fish Posts: 864 Member
    It's one meal. Go, eat regular portions of the foods you like, log it and move on. This is always going to be part of your life. Learn to work these things in to your calories.

    Have fun!

    Seconded.
  • ekz13
    ekz13 Posts: 725 Member
    I usually start with the ribs.. but everyone is different :)

    seriously.. its one day and I used to do this way back in the day and regret now all the times I just ate or drank whatever crap fad diet I was trying at the time and watching everyone else enjoying what was prepared... won't do it again.. not going to miss out on it for the want of a couple pounds you can make up later..

    you get one go around... this is it...
  • maasha81
    maasha81 Posts: 733 Member
    I head straight for the protein ...meat and then the veggies / corn. Never was a fan of potatoes to be honest but love a good burger. :)

    Honestly, on days like this ..I allocate cals to eat (either by having smaller meals before or exercising more) and enjoy the BBQ or just call it a treat day.
  • inthekitch
    inthekitch Posts: 26
    Mmmmm, BBQ!

    Because of work, I BBQ probably more often than I realistically want to! The last few times I had brought some turkey breast from home and had BBQed that and used hummus on lettuce leaves for my "bread". Veggies burgers are alwayyyys delicious as well!

    The best "burger" combo I've tried lately has included adding avocado slices, hummus, banana slices and peanut butter to my veggie burger; sounds weird, but it's beyond delicious!
  • CyberEd312
    CyberEd312 Posts: 3,536 Member
    It's one meal. Go, eat regular portions of the foods you like, log it and move on. This is always going to be part of your life. Learn to work these things in to your calories.

    Have fun!

    QFT!!
  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

    That's what I'd do. Perhaps have a tiny bit of potato, one beer, then diet colas the rest of the time. If it were a one-off BBQ, I'd go degen but every week is going to lead to problems in that you'll probably overeat the last 6 days of deficit.
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    Cheeseburgers are the best thing to eat at a BBQ! Oooh, and ribs! And you must do s'mores!

    I tend to just eat whatever and balance it out over the next couple days if I feel I've really overindulged.
  • kk_140
    kk_140 Posts: 518 Member
    I normally bring turkey burgers and ask for them to grilll them for me. If that isn't an option, I'll just eat the leaner meats, like grilled chicken, and pull the skin off.

    Nothing wrong with buns unless you're counting carbs. Only about 110 calories in your average bun.
  • cheripugh1
    cheripugh1 Posts: 357 Member
    BBQ season is here, and it seems like every weekend something is happening. Finding it hard not to over indulge. My solution has been to eat lightly for the rest of the day, and allow myself a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

    Well I'm going to guess you all aren't just sitting around, so you will get some exercise - that say - sitting at home you'd not get... either way you are doing right picking the meat product and then staying away from the bread/buns and cheese... so grab some potato salad just remember a serving not the whole dish :) can still have salad too which fills you up nicely for little calories... and go ahead and have a beer, that would be ONE :) then plan to work out the next day extra IF you go over calorie, if you eat lite before the BBQ you might not even go over. This is part of your life, like holidays and all those special times...you need to learn how to live in it when you are at goal, so develop habits along the way to enjoy these things...
  • njmark72
    njmark72 Posts: 99 Member
    Hi All,

    When I BBQ at home I try to keep it sane using light hamburger or hot dob buns and turkey burgers or turkey sausage. I love ribs though and I basically try to keep them to 1/2 rack and an ear of corn. I try not to overeat.

    Then I'll either run or go play a round of golf while carrying my clubs in the heat. Great way to burn extra calories.



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  • DAM5412
    DAM5412 Posts: 660 Member
    I like the suggestion of doing some calorie reductions the week around the BBQ day.

    But there were so many good suggestions about healthier eating, and i'll be trying some of those as well!
  • SingingSingleTracker
    SingingSingleTracker Posts: 1,866 Member
    BBQ season is here, and it seems like every weekend something is happening. Finding it hard not to over indulge. My solution has been to eat lightly for the rest of the day, and allow myself a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

    Simple: Calories in vs. calories out.

    Throw in a 1.2 - 2K calorie burn on BBQ day, and you'll be fine.

    You'll always take in more sodium on BBQ day to have water retention the following day, but c'est la vie.
  • PRMinx
    PRMinx Posts: 4,585 Member
    I fail to see how BBQ food is "bad."

    Burgers, grilled chicken, kabobs....all pretty good stuff that should fit well into your macros. Have a reasonable portion of potato salad and some other veggies and you should be good to go with a well balanced meal.

    For the beer, get a good burn in beforehand.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I didn't know potato salad was the debil....and I love beer. somehow I make it work...
  • Acg67
    Acg67 Posts: 12,142 Member
    BBQ season is here, and it seems like every weekend something is happening. Finding it hard not to over indulge. My solution has been to eat lightly for the rest of the day, and allow myself a burger and a sausage or chicken, no bread/buns or cheese, and just had salad on the side. I am finding it hard to steer clear of the potato salad and the beers though... sigh. all for a good cause

    BBQ =/= grilling :/
  • belgarath64
    belgarath64 Posts: 125 Member
    BBQ almost every night now the nice weather is here. Steak, burgers, ribs or chicken, it is all good. Yes a small amount of the potato or pasta salad but I do love my caesar or green salads too. Just don't over do, and you will be fine. and if you go over occasionally, it is not the end of the world, just go for a nice brisk walk after dinner.
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    I didn't know potato salad was the debil....and I love beer. somehow I make it work...

    this and buns and ribs etc.

    I make it fit.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    If there is an option, I will go for the leaner meats like the chicken or steaks and leave the sausages and ribs for others, but I do need the occasional brat (I am from Wisconsin after all). If the cook-out is a pitch-in where you bring your own meat and a dish to pass I will bring things like marinated chicken breasts or kebabs and a lower calorie green salad or veggie tray. Basically, I try to eat the leaner meats, smaller portions of the sides, and have one beer instead of a bunch of beers. It is a party so enjoy it, log it, and move on to the next day.

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