Memorial Day BBQ Ideas
It is the unofficial start of summer with Memorial Day Weekend and many of you will be enjoying some delicious BBQ. BBQ doesn’t have to be unhealthy and there are things you can do to make it more alkaline and healthful.
Firstly keep in mind that charred meats done on the BBQ contain carcinogenic heterocyclic amines (HCA's), however you can reduce this effect by marinating meats for at least several hours in a marinade containing rosemary, thyme, garlic, oregano and other spices. Marinating adds flavor and also makes the meat taste delicious. Also, the more well done or charred the meat, the more HCAs it will contain. In addition, if you like meat, remember organic and/or grass fed beef is always best and wild (not farmed) fish is the way to go.
Add Some Alkaline Vegetables to your BBQ. .jpg)
The possibilities are endless here and they help to balance out some of the acidity from the meat. Try some of the following:
1. Grilled asparagus. This makes an easy alkaline addition to any barbecue. Just trim the bottoms of a bunch of asparagus, drizzle with a little olive oil, season with Himalayan sea salt, fresh pepper, and other herbs of choice and grill for a few minutes turning regularly.
2. Veggie kebabs. Put all of your favorite vegetables on a skewer, wipe with a little oil such as avocado oil or olive oil and grill on medium. You can also add tofu or a little fish to the skewers if desired.
3. Grilled fish. If you eat fish, salmon is great on the barbecue. Using a cedar plank gives a wonderful flavor. Just make sure your salmon is wild and not farmed. Add some fresh squeezed lemon juice and some salt and pepper and grill until desired tenderness is reached.
4. Grilled corn. Sweet corn cooked on the barbecue is one of my favorites. You can pre-boil the corn a little first then finish on the barbecue or leave the corn in it's husk and grill directly on the barbeque. Avoid the urge to add butter. Corn is in season now and is super sweet so why ruin the taste and make it acidic by adding butter?
5. Baked potatoes, sweet potatoes or yams. Easy and delicious! You can wrap them in foil and cook. However, I don't like to use foil as it migrates small amounts of aluminum into the food. I like to use a grilling basket for my potatoes instead. You can add sea salt, pepper and various herbs like rosemary or parsley, then drizzle with olive oil, place in your grilling basket and grill on barbecue over medium heat. Avoid the butter and sour cream but feel free to use fresh chives.
6. Grilled portobello mushrooms. Wipe them with a little olive oil, place on the grill and cook for a few minutes. Can be chopped and served as a side dish or eaten as a burger.
7. Veggie Burger. Make your own veggie patties using alkaline ingredients or buy organic burgers. Grill on the barbecue and serve between romaine lettuce or on a sprouted bun.
Don’t Forget your Greens
A great side dish to serve during a barbecue is a dark, leafy, green alkaline salad. Add all of your favorite vegetables like peppers, carrots, cucumbers and sprouts. Feel free to add flax seeds and pumpkin seeds for extra alkalinity. Other good salads include tabouli salad and quinoa salad. Another traditional barbecue side dish is baked beans. Try making your own to ensure they are the healthiest and most alkaline. You can also offer wild rice or brown rice as a side. The possibilities are endless so experiment and enjoy!
Read more...
28 May 2012
