It’s grillin’ season! Whether it’s on an open flame while camping, a backyard BBQ or a char-broil smoker – you know you’re making some incredible meals and fun memories. There’s nothing like cooking in the great outdoors and getting to hold the title of ‘grill master.’ The best part is, BBQ can be healthy too. Here are some tips for enjoying some healthy BBQ this summer.

Make Grilled Vegetables Your Stars
Vegetables don’t usually get the credit they deserve when it comes to the grill because we tend to focus on the meat. Grilled vegetables pack a ton of flavour and make for a beautiful plate with all of their colour.  They don’t just taste great but also retain more nutrients on the grill and have a ton of antioxidants. Instead of going for a heavy scoop of macaroni or potato salad, choose some grilled veggies. Veggies that are great on the grill include:

  • Asparagus
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • Bell Peppers
  • Mushrooms
  • Eggplant
  • Corn
  • Broccoli

Grilling Vegetables Tip – Vegetables can be hard to flip on the grill. To make it easier, try using a BBQ grill basket or put the veggies on a skewer.

Bring the Flavour With Marinade
The secret to boosting the flavour of any type of vegetable or meat you’re grilling is by using a marinade. Not only will it add flavour but it means you’re using less of both salt and added fat when you’re cooking. There are countless options for both wet and dry marinades. Just make sure you don’t leave it marinating too long because it can start to cure some meats before it even hits the grill. Never reuse your marinade either – there’s too much risk of contamination from your raw meat.

Grilling Marinade Tip - Use low-fat marinades on your grilled meats, fish, and poultry to limit the fat that drips on the coals or BBQ burner.

Pick Lean Meats
When you think of BBQ, you think meat. The smell, the taste, the sound – it’s a full sensory experience. That’s why if you want to stay healthy with your grilling, your choice of meat is so important. Fattier cuts of meat like pork shoulder, brisket, ribs or processed meats like hot dogs and sausage are tasty every now and again, but don’t forget to pick up leaner meats like chicken, fish or turkey too. If you’re barbequing, you’re likely going to serve red meat from time-to-time, so try and pick up the less fatty cuts like flank or tenderloin.

Meat Grilling Tip: When grilling meat, take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before cooking. Resting the meat before cooking will allow it to cook more evenly and prevent it from drying out. This is especially important for thicker cuts of meat like steaks or pork chops.

Stay on Top of Grill Maintenance
A true grill master stays on top of cleaning their grill. To truly get the best taste in all of your meals you need to get rid of any charcoal or residue that will make your food taste bitter. A good cleaning also prevents any flames or burning from happening while you grill. Invest in a good palmyra bristles brush to really give your grill a good scrub.  Palmyra bristle brushes are made with wooden fiber bristles from palmyra stalk, this allows any bristles that fall off to burn up or char while the grill is running, eliminating the choking issue that has been known to happen when using metal bristle brushes.

BBQ Grill Cleaning Tip – While the grill is hot, cut a large onion in half and put it on the end of your grilling fork. Rub the onion back and forth on the grill grates. The enzymes from the onion will help break down the oil and the grease and as a bonus, onions have amazing antibacterial and antiseptic properties.

Healthy BBQ Recipe Ideas
One of the best things about BBQing is that you can grill pretty much anything. From bread to dessert to eggs – you can try it all. Here are a few of our favourite healthy BBQ recipes:


There’s nothing like the thrill of the grill, especially in the summer. Whether you’re new to the BBQ or an experienced griller, we hope these tips will let you have a healthy and delicious grilling season!