What to Eat at BBQs

Author

Jenny Champion MS RD
May 15, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

Warm weather, summer holidays and backyard pool parties are upon us, my friends. If you need some better-for-you BBQ options, this post is for you.

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If you’re a guest:

  1. Make the best choices with what you’re given

  2. BYO

Option two is my favorite because 1) I’m a dietary control freak and 2) I know exactly what foods / brands / portions work best for me and I like to stick to them. If you feel funny bringing / eating your own food, just remember… people are typically worried about themselves, not you. Eat what’s going to make YOU feel good tomorrow and forget about opinions that won’t matter in 10 minutes.

Here’s how I’d navigate food at summer gatherings…

  1. Go bunless for burgers and dogs.

  2. Double up on those burgers and dogs (the protein will keep you from bingeing on cupcakes later).

  3. Sip seltzer, unsweetened iced tea or my fave prebiotic soda, Poppi.

  4. Avoid anything with macaroni in it.

  5. Kebabs!!

  6. Load up your plate with veggies, nuts, cheese and fruit.

  7. If you’re going to splurge on something, start with nuts or cheese.

  8. Avoid anything with breading on it.

  9. Drumsticks!!

  10. Potato salad actually isn’t so bad… you’re welcome.

  11. Put some butter on your corn to balance out the carbs.

  12. Deviled eggs!!!!

If you’re going the BYO route, here are a few salty / crunchy crowd faves:

If you’re hosting:

Use the ideas above and enjoy all that sweet, sweet control over food selection.

Quick Tip: If you end up going overboard despite your best effort (it happens to the best of us, don’t feel bad), just get back on track tomorrow. It’s a speed bump, not a derailment.

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Q+A

Q: I’m trying to watch portions and I’ll do well for a few days, but then blow it on the weekend.

A: If you’re not eating enough of the right stuff, you will go overboard on the wrong stuff, which is why I actually don’t recommend portion control as a first step in losing weight. It’s better to actually satisfy yourself by eating MORE protein, healthy fats and veggies while letting your appetite decrease naturally vs. torturing yourself with a constantly-growling stomach.

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Disclosures:

This is not medical advice. Speak to your doctor before taking supplements or making any major dietary and / or lifestyle changes.

We’re affiliates for some of the brands and / or products we recommend which means we’ll make a small commission if you click and buy. Thanks for the support!

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