Ways to Cut Calories on BBQ

Be sides savy, Take advantage of fresh and tasty seasonal produce while slimming your waist: Trade a side of traditional creamy potato salad for sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions tossed with fat-free Italian dressing. Dip wisely, instead of coating greasy chips with fat-packed sour cream, try serving baked tortilla chips or better yet, whole-wheat pita wedges with low-fat refried beans and chunky salsa, It's a tasty way to sneak in an extra serving of veggies. Load Burgers with Flavor, not Fat, mix in robust flavors to blow your guests' minds, such as chopped roasted garlic and shallots, jalapeno, grilled onions, and lots of herbs and spices. Green your vinaigrette, healthy foods like potato salad, sandwiches and pasta salads with heavy, cream-based dressings or mayo. Instead, try subbing in Rollo's heart-healthy, greener topping.

Put veggies front and center, make them the star of your meal. You'll fill up on fewer calories by placing your protein such as a grilled chicken breast or sliced steak over a bed of grilled vegetables. Grill your dessert, too - throw it on the barbecue and grill each side for about four minutes, or until flesh is tender but still firm, and sprinkle with cinnamon. Or just chop up fresh fruit and drizzle with chocolate sauce for a fiber-filled sweet treat. Go for leaner meat, swap pork sausage for turkey sausage or if you can get it past the men in your party, opt for grilled fish, such as tilapia brushed with olive oil and herbs, over fattier cuts of meat like chicken legs and fillet of char.  This will save you about 135 to 145 calories so you can sip a brewskie, guilt-free.