Get to the Grill!

The grill…that fantastic outdoor food cooker is far more than just another way to plump hot dogs and cook perfect medium-well burgers. It’s also a different way to prepare tasty and nutritious food for our friends and family. Let’s take a look at some of the health benefits of cooking out and maybe even throw a few recipe ideas out there.

Let’s start with the meats. No doubt, meat cooked on the grill beats meat cooked on top of a stove almost any day. In some cases it’s also a healthier option. When cooking on the stove, the meat often ends up being cooked in its own fat. When grilled, some of that fat drips away or is burned off in the cooking process.  This doesn’t necessarily mean that it makes that 1lb. 80% chuck beef patty a low fat burger, but it does trim a little bit off. Leaner meat can also benefit from the grill. The high heat can help to seal in some of the moisture. This can make for a tastier grilled chicken or salmon steak that requires less seasoning salt and condiments that add unnecessary sodium and sugar.

There’s no reason why we should limit ourselves to grilling meats, especially when there are so many fruit and vegetable options out there. Sliced yellow squash, tomatoes, and just about any veggie we can slice of fit in a foil pack can go on the grill. How about sweet potatoes… there not just for Thanksgiving dinner. They’re packed with potassium, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and they are delicious right off the grill. We have a simple recipe right HERE.  Apples, pears, peaches, pineapples… and the list goes on, are often easy, quick, and require no seasoning. These are just a few suggestions to help us get the most out of our grilling experience.

Keep in mind that there have been concerns over carcinogens that exist in very well-done food. Seasoning with certain spices high in antioxidants, basting, and pre-cooking what we throw on the grill are just a few suggestions found HERE that help cut down on those harmful carcinogens.

As always, be sure to speak with a licensed health professional before making any dietary changes that may impact your overall health.

If you have any grilling suggestions, leave a comment below or let us know on Facebook and Twitter.

Vacation Fit

It doesn't matter what we eat, we’re on vacation…right? Nobody works out when they’re on leave…do they? Everyone together now: “HAHAHAHA”. Of course nutrition and exercise matter when we’re on vacation. Just because we take a break from the daily grind to rest at home or travel to a candy filled theme park doesn't mean that we have permission to ignore our health. One of the big issues that we face when taking a break from our routine is just that…breaking from our routine. Instead of looking at how it can work against us, let’s make that time off work for us by trying some new things.

Let’s start with our nutrition. Often times we think of vacation food as hot-dogs and hamburgers or a trip loaded with fast-food and milk shakes. Why waist a perfect opportunity to try some new foods? We can get the same old fast food any time of the year, but it’s not that often that we have time to grill tuna steaks, salmon, whole veggies, or other foods high in nutritional value (find a few ideas HERE). Eating healthy while on the road may be a little more difficult, but far from impossible. Packing some dried fruit, nuts, and/or whole grains (depending on allergies of course) to snack on are a simple way to make sure we’re getting some much needed nutrition. For more substantial proteins and whole vegetables, don’t be afraid to check out the local cuisine and be sure to ask questions according to your individual nutritional needs. If really concerned, don’t be afraid to look ahead and do a little pre-meal planning. It might even solve that commonly indecisive vacation question’ “what are we eating tonight?”

Some use exercise as a vacation while most of us use our time off as an excuse not to exercise. Well, there’s almost no reason that we can’t stay fit, still have some fun, and try something different.  At home, we can set aside time each day to do some cardio and strength training. Even if it’s just 15 minutes of moderate exercise a day, we need something to keep us in the habit of working out. If we’re on the road, there may be some even easier ways to stay fit. There are a plethora of hotels with small workout facilities. Often times they are within the same price range as facilities without workout rooms. Many of them include a treadmill, bike, medicine balls, and dumbbells up to 50lbs as standard equipment. If in a warm climate, check out the hotel pool for a swim. If there’s neither a gym nor a pool, don’t forget about body weight exercises (check out a few more ideas HERE).

As always, be sure to ask a health professional and talk to one of the licensed personal trainers at the Rec Center to help find a fitness solution that works for you.