Amy Bailey: Grill your way lean

By Amy Bailey

Now that the weather is cooling down, outdoor cookouts are a great opportunity to relax and visit with friends and family.

With a few small changes to your average barbecue menu, you can turn outdoor cookouts into the perfect opportunity for weight loss.

Here are some tips for grilling your way lean this fall:

On the grill: Believe it or not, grilling is actually a very healthy way to cook meat. Of course, the type of meat that you choose will make all of the difference. Hot dogs and traditional barbecue meats aren’t the healthiest, so instead, try the following:

■ Choose lean cuts of beef, pork or poultry

■ Marinade with low-fat dressing

■ Make hamburgers with lean ground beef

■ Take the skin off chicken before grilling

■ Grill salmon or cod

Side dishes: This is where most people run into trouble. Barbecue side dishes are typically filled with loads of oils and creams. Try the following instead:

■ Make veggie kabobs and grill them

■ Serve fresh salad with light vinaigrette

■ Grill corn on the cob

■ Put out a veggie tray with homemade dip

Desserts: Yes, there are ways to satisfy your sweet tooth while getting lean. Think outside of the box instead of turning to the typical fattening options like ice cream, pie, cake or cookies. Try the following:

■ Grill mango, banana and pineapple on kabobs

■ Replace peach pie with grilled peach halves

■ Blend frozen bananas in a blender on high for a unique and delicious frozen treat similar to traditional ice cream

Remember, it’s OK to splurge every once in a while. Enjoy yourself. Just keep in mind that by taking a few of the above suggestions, you can enjoy great food while getting back into great shape!