The first part of Summer has come and gone, but that doesn’t mean the cookouts have. When you’re on a special diet you may often feel limited in what you can eat, especially when you are on a path to a healthier lifestyle.
While I don’t believe in depriving yourself of eating, there are many alternatives to enjoying food whether you are at a cookout, a restaurant, or a dinner party. The main thing is educating yourself enough to know which healthier options can replace you're not so healthy ones.
So, with summer still in full swing, there should be no reason to feel limited in what you eat at your next cookout. Not only can you find great recipes and tips here on www.blackdoctor.org, but Google and Pinterest are other great resources.
Following simple tips and techniques and knowing great food alternatives will make you a pro at the next cookout.
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Preparation
Preparation is key with almost everything. In preparing for your next cookout or summer grilling festivity take some time to sit and think about what you want to cook and make a grocery list according to what you plan to make.
Not only does this keep you organized, but it also prevents unnecessary spending.
Grilling Essentials
If you don’t have an outside grill, you can always grill inside, but it is summer and there's nothing like outdoor grilling. It’s more spacious and you can socialize and entertain your guests.
If you are unfamiliar with traditional grilling you can always bring the electric grill outdoors. Some essentials include aluminum foil, tongs, a fork, a knife, olive oil, heat spatula, and wooden skewers.
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Tips and Tricks
Experiment with different herbs and seasonings to get your own signature flavor. I personally mix a few of my favorite seasonings to get a tangy flavor that works well on everything. Great seasoning options are chili lime, onion salt, garlic powder, Umami mushroom seasoning, garlic sea salt, parsley, basil, and rosemary.
Depending on what you are making, you’ll want to grill your food directly on the grill or wrapped in aluminum foil. Cooking directly on the grill gives you that charred taste and look while grilling in the aluminum foil holds the flavor of the seasonings.
There is no right or wrong way to grill and you don’t have to use one method or the other. You can use both. Bigger sized vegetables are great for direct grilling, while chopped veggies work better in aluminum foil.
Food Alternatives
If you are vegan or plant-based then, likely, you're not eating animal meat.
Beyond Meat is a great alternative. They have burgers, beef, sausage, and crumbles giving you many options to eat. Cena Vegan is another vegan meat alternative offering pollo asada, carne asada, al pastor, and barbacoa.
In addition to packaged meat alternatives, you can use fresh or canned jackfruit. BBQ pulled pork is popular during the summer and jackfruit is the best substitute for pork.
Meal Ideas
The next time you decide to grill or go to a cookout, try some of these delicious meal ideas.
- Beyond Meat Cheeseburger with grilled onions, tomatoes, and mushrooms
- Grilled Portobello Mushroom Burger
- Beyond Meat Sausage dog with vegan chili (Trader Joe’s) and chopped onions
- Un-Pulled Pork Sandwich with jackfruit
- Veggie Skewers (option to add tofu)
The best resources for finding new and exciting plant-based and vegan meal ideas are on Pinterest. You’ll find that there are many quick and easy meals and recipes for every lifestyle.
Elissa Mirsky, known to most as Elle, is a published author and former editor-in-chief of Bold Magazine. She believes food shouldn’t be boring and every meal should be fashionably edible. Follow her on Instagram @mylifebeingelle where she is documenting her journey to eat well, live life, and love self.
