Grilling: A Healthier Alternative for Cooking

July is National Grilling Month, and you know what that means: The sun is out, families are gathered, and everyone is heating up the grill. Grilling your food is a fun, seasonal (depending on where you live) alternative to other forms of cooking. It can be done outside or indoors, it brings people together, and makes for some great food. But the benefit of grilling goes beyond its social aspects. Grilling your next meal can be a healthier alternative to regular cooking that will leave you satisfied and fueled for any activity that comes your way.

Why is grilling a healthier alternative? It all has to do with what is left in the food once cooked on the grill. For one, grilling your food gives the meal a reduced fat content. For example, let’s say you’re grilling a nice steak. If you were to cook it in a pan on the stovetop or in the oven, the fat content from the meat is expelled and collected as a liquid around the meat. The excess fat is absorbed into the meat itself, resulting in a higher fat content. When grilling, this fat is expelled and falls through the grill, permanently separating itself from the meat. The result is a dinner with a reduced fat content, which also may reduce risks of heart disease and certain cancers. The lack of fat in the dish results in a lower overall calorie count, so if you’re watching your macros, this is an excellent cooking option for you.

There are other nutritional advantages to cooking on the grill. If you grill your dinner at a high heat, this encourages the various vitamins and minerals to seep out into the meat, adding nutrients that baking or boiling can’t do. And, allowing these minerals to seep out has been linked to lowering cholesterol and slowing digestion, meaning you can stay full for longer without eating nearly as much.

These benefits serve your body well. If you’re an active individual, whether it be on the job or working out, grilling your food will give you the energy you need to perform at your best.

Less fat, more nutrition. What about flavor? Logically it makes sense that less fat translates to less flavor, as the runoff fat is often utilized in a variety of recipes when preparing meat. However, this is not the case. Grilling foods gives our tastebuds a boost, making it more enjoyable than when it’s prepared in other ways. We knew there was something to that char flavor!

So where to start? Just about anything can be grilled. Steak, chicken, shrimp, lobster. If you can cook it, you can grill it. There are many wonderful recipes for kebabs, burgers, ribs, pasta, you name it. Whatever you end up grilling, it is likely to be healthier.

But not everyone is a meat eater. And that’s okay! There are many recipes that involve grilling vegetables that can give you the same benefits as any other dish. Grilled vegetable recipes are extremely nourishing and plentiful in the summer, as this is the time many vegetables are in season.

For grilled non-meat protein alternatives, tofu is a brilliant option. Extra firm tofu holds up to the grilling process and is an excellent protein source. There are plenty grilled tofu recipes, allowing vegetarians and vegans to fully participate at the next family cookout. Veggie burgers and other plant-based burger alternatives have also become a very common placeholder and can be found at just about any supermarket.

Grilling is an American tradition and pastime, but it could also be your next big step in living a healthier, more active lifestyle. With all the outstanding health benefits and delicious recipes at your disposal, it’s hard to find a reason not to heat up that grill.