Newsletter #4 - The Eating Low BBQ

The Eating Low BBQ Makeover

If your idea of a backyard BBQ is hot dogs, chips, and potato salad, it's time to give your BBQ menu an Eating Low makeover. Chicken and fish taste great grilled, especially if cooked on a skewer with some squash or cherry tomatoes. If you don't have an outdoor grill, invest in a George Foreman grill or use the broil setting of your oven.

Fish in a tinfoil packet tastes great cooked on the grill and it's super easy to make - spray some butter spray on the tinfoil, place your fish on top, add spices and lemon juice, fold the tinfoil to make a packet, and grill until fish flakes easily.

If you absolutely MUST have burgers and dogs, try a turkey dog or turkey burger! Skip the bun and ketchup. Instead of chips, set out cucumber and radish slices - they are pretty and taste great!

Make a big salad with fancy mixed greens and set out a variety of wishbone spritzers so your guests can choose. Set out some salt and pepper grinders - balsalmic spritzer with salt and pepper tastes fancy but is so easy!

Tasty Toppers

Ketchup is too carby to make a good summertime burger topper and some of the low carb products seem to cause stalls so think outside the bun! Fork-and-knife burgers and dogs call for dressier toppings!

• Salsa - Find the lowest carb salsa you can or make your own pico de gallo.
• Worchestershire - This tastes great on turkey burgers. Sprinkle on the burger before grilling.
• Spicy Mustard - Splurge on the fancy mustard and you won't even miss the ketchup on your dog.
• Horseradish - I love the bite of horseradish. I put it on almost anything!
• Brushetta - This lends an italian flair to burgers.

Crystal Light Popsicles

My parents used to make these homemade popsicles using kool-aid, but you can make them using Crystal Light. Take an ice cube tray and fill with Crystal Light. Set in the freezer until "cubes" are slushy but not frozen solid. Stick toothpicks in each "cube" so you have a handle for your popsicle. Put back in the freezer until the popsicle has solidified. Be sure to supervise small children so nobody swallows a toothpick! Linens and Things or Bed, Bath, and Beyond carry popsicles molds and sticks that would probably work better, but for me little cubey popsicles on tiny little toothpicks remind me of summer as a kid.

Keeping the Carb-Eaters Happy

Low carbers can co-exist with their carb-eating family and friends if they plan ahead and have a bit of willpower. Have a few buns on hand for the carb-eaters; low carbers can go bunless. Grilled chicken is such a popular item that carb-eaters won't even realize they are Eating Low! Set out a veggie platter filled with celery, broccoli, cauliflower, and other lower carb veggies; throw in a few baby carrots for the carb-eaters who don't realize how starchy they are! Grilled veggies are a good substitute for corn on the cob - spritz them with balsalmic wishbone spritzer and sprinkle with salt and pepper for a fancy side dish that won't break your diet.