Warm sunny days are here and one of the first items to be brought out of storage is the GRILL, be it gas or charcoal. The ?BBQ KINGS? are getting all of their tools ready to serve up that grilled steak, hot dogs and hopefully some healthy vegetables and fruits. While grilling is a summertime tradition, and almost everyone grills something, grilling does carry some health risks. But there are ways to minimize the risk and make grilling healthier.



Meat that is cooked on the grill creates compounds called ?Hetercyctic animes? (HCAs) and Polycyclis Aromatic Hydrocarbons? (PAHs). These compounds have been found to be powerful cancer-causing agents in animals and research indicates that they are carcinogenic to us as well. These compounds are formed when fat from meat drops on to the hot coals or grill heating element, causing smoke to rise back up and onto the food. The American institute for Cancer Research states ? A diet high in grilled and barbequed meat over an open flame and evey pan fried may possibley increasethe risk of stomach, colon and rectal cancers?.

So what can we do? Grill a variety of fruits and vegetables! Vegetables and fruits do not form on these when grilled. We still get the benefit of taste but without the cancer chemicals that from on our food. And there are an endless variety of fruits and vegetables out there that can be grilled.

Almost anyone who grills has grilled corn on the cob, the most popular vegetable to be grilled but you can also grill tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, endive, fennel, and mushrooms (one of my favorites). You can also grill fruits such as pineapple, mango, apple, pear and strawberries. These make great dessets when paired with low fat frozen yogurt or even if eaten alone in a grilled fruit medley. Fruits and vegetables sprayed with low fat butter or marinate provides bulk that will fill you up; it will also give the grilled taste we all want and love plus the disease fighting chemicals called ?phytochemicals? and less calories.. Meat can still be a part of your meal but make grilled fruits and vegetables the bulk of your healthy grilled meal.

So all your ?BBQ KINGS? do not fear for healthy grilling is here giving you the opportunity to get creative and show off your skills.