Come, run along with us as we share our joy of everything running.
I’m here this week to help you plan out a healthy BBQ menu that’s so delicious, that your running buddies won’t feel guilty, and your less calorie-conscious friends won’t even miss the high-fat alternatives. Flavor is the name of the game here!
While training means that you sacrifice some carbs, calories, and fat, you do NOT have to sacrifice flavor! I’ve got some quick and easy hacks to effortlessly trim down the unhealthier parts of BBQ staples and, if you stick around, you can also have my super-secret salmon seasoning mix!
The first hack I have is probably the easiest! A simple way to help your guests (and yourself) avoid soda at a party is to offer an alternative that’s tastier and a bit more fun than water. For your next summer barbecue, plan ahead and make fruit ice cubes! This is such a quick and easy way to keep drinks cool but add some extra flavor to your favorite flavored seltzer or cold water.
This healthy hack can be as effortless as picking up some bags of frozen fruit for your guests to drop into their drinks at will, but you could also take this even further for an adorable addition to your drink menu! If your guests are wine drinkers, frozen grapes are a great pairing to keep their glasses chilled but never water down their vino! Wine tumblers would also make a great gift and help you keep that wine cold!
If you plan on leaving ice outside or at room temperature, I suggest using some ice trays to solidify your frozen fruit inside an ice cube for more longevity in the warm weather. This is where you could also get a little bit festive and pair up fruits in ice cubes that match your theme.
In the summertime, I like to make ice cubes with some chopped strawberry pieces, blueberries, and bits of white dragon fruit – though I can admit, it seems a shame to not show off that gorgeous dragon fruit skin!
Now that all of your guests have quenched their thirsts, it’s time for the main attraction – the food! I’m absolutely not a nutritionist, but I do believe that people who train as hard as we do deserve to enjoy a cheat day for a party without feeling guilty the next day. That’s easier said than done, so I do have some more hacks to help you stave off some of that guilt.
It might be basic but subbing out ground beef for veggie or fish alternatives or lean turkey does help! When it comes to the summertime special – a juicy cheeseburger – you might be able to get away with only using salt and pepper on a beef burger. To really get the most out of your dish when you’re substituting for beef, I grab for 5 add-ons, minimum.
Salt and pepper are the staples, but I used onion powder and garlic powder even more frequently. Once you have those four in the mix, I always add a touch of warmth – think about those red spices in your cabinet. Sometimes a dash of paprika is just the right balance!
For the extra nudge, you can easily substitute the bun and wrap your patty in the lettuce or skip the cheese. If, like me, you’re reluctant to skip the cheese, grilled halloumi is a calcium and protein-packed way to top your burger off without missing your cheddar!
And speaking of alternatives for your main course, I always keep my promises! Salmon is such an underrated grill option! The smokiness from the grill combined with a warm spice mix and a bright pop of citrus make this mix an easy option that will still have your guests raving!
To start, you want to make your finishing drizzle (seems counterintuitive, I know, but stay with me).
Combine:
To this mixture, add splashes of water as needed until you have a loose and easily drizzled consistency. I go heavy on the citrus here, but you can always adjust for your preferences.
In a separate small bowl, combine your dry ingredients for your salmon. And again, here is where you can adjust to your tastes!
Mix:
To this mix, add in some of your finishing drizzle until you get a paste-like consistency. Brush this (liberally) over your salmon filets and you are ready to grill! To save your fish from falling apart when you want to remove them, you can lay lemon slices directly onto your grill, then place the salmon filets (skin-side down) onto the lemons. This way, your salmon will still cook when you close the grill, but you won’t have to worry about extra oil to try to keep the skin from sticking!
Want to host a run before your BBQ? Check out our options to create your own Virtual Race to wow your running buddies and help out a charity close to your heart!
