Nothing quite says summer like the smell of a barbecue. This week’s healthy tip is all about how we can turn a regular not-so-healthy barbecue into a flavour-packed heart-healthy feast for the whole family to enjoy. We give you tips on how to increase the fibre and reduce the fat content of your usual barbecue spread.
Sizzling skewers
Skewers are great for barbecues, and you can fill them with a rainbow of vegetables to help you hit your five-a-day and add some heart-healthy fibre to your meal.
Peppers, courgettes, onion, and tomatoes work well together.
The key is to cut your veggies into similar size chunks and, if you’re using wooden skewers, make sure you soak them before grilling so they don’t burn.
Choose fish and chicken
When thinking about a barbecue, burgers and sausages usually spring to mind and while these are fine to eat in moderation, there are heart-healthier options to choose.
Try grilling salmon wrapped in foil with some lemon for an omega-3-rich lean protein source to pair with your skewers. If you still fancy sausages, choose lean chicken varieties which contain less saturated fat.
Add a jacket spud
Jacket potatoes are the perfect barbecue accompaniment as you can cook them in advance and then wrap them in foil to pop on the barbecue to warm up.
They pair perfectly with veggie skewers and salmon to create a balanced heart-healthy delicious barbecue meal to enjoy in the garden.
To help keep your heart healthy, why not try out some of our healthy recipes from our website: https://heartresearch.org.uk/heart-research-uk-recipes-2
