Does enjoying cookout season have to mean saying goodbye to your diet this summer? Not any more. Now you can have your burger and eat it too. Just follow some smart tips; and you could enjoy cookout food without ruining your diet completely.

Here is an example of what a smart choice could save you – Jane picks a half-pound hamburger with potato salad, while Linda chooses a quarter-pound sirloin burger on a whole grain bun and fresh fruit salad. Guess what – Linda saves 500 calories! And that, as we all know, is a lot of calories to save in one single meal.

As Linda’s choice indicates, it’s not just the meat you pick that counts, but the portion size as well. So pick a quarter-pound burger instead of a half- or third-pounder or a regular sized light hot dog in place of an oversized sausage frank or link. Give up the 8- to 12- ounce steak in favor of the 4-ounce lean steak.

For every meat on the menu, there’s a slimmer, healthier choice. Take sirloin or extra-lean beef instead of regular beef. If it’s a steak you’re eating, go for the lean cut. Avoid Polish sausage links, hot links, smoked sausages or bratwursts and go for the reduced-fat sausage link instead. Grilled, skinless chicken breast or thigh is preferable to the breaded or fried chicken patty or even a grilled chicken thigh with the skin on.

Toppings matter too, as do the buns. Skip the bacon, mayonnaise, fried onion, and full-fat cheese toppings in favor of the healthier tomato, lettuce, onion, salsa, mustard, and reduced fat cheese and serve on the whole grain bun.

The side dishes make a difference too. Heap your plate with a fresh vegetable or fruit salad instead of chips and you could save about 120 calories. Pass the potato salad and add a serving of vegetarian baked beans, and you could bypass 50-60 calories. Eat all the carrot sticks and celery that you want. Remember, celery, when eaten raw, actually takes more calories to chew and swallow than it adds to your body.

And we’re not done yet. Choose unsweetened iced tea instead of the sweetened lemonade, and you could skip 100 calories. For dessert, opt for fresh berries, melons, or whatever other fresh fruit might be available. Avoid cakes, cookies, pies, and ice-creams.

Avoid empty calories at all costs. Say a firm “No” to regular soda and alcoholic beverages.

Also, pick foods that need minimum preparation at the campsite. You will need more stove fuel in the winter, and you’ll be wearing gloves as well, so food that needs cutting and slicing is best left out. Look for frozen foods that are already sealed in a bag and need only to be put on a pan of boiling water. Carry plenty of soup packets as well. These are easy to prepare, and keep you warm and hydrated too.

Remember, it’s possible to enjoy the season without having to worry about the extra pounds later. It’s all about the choices you make!

Author Bio: For more information about outdoor grills and cooking accessories visit our website at http://www.outdoorgrillcenter.com/

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: outdoor grills