4 Tips For A Body-Beautifying BBQ!

It's summertime and it's time for summer get togethers.  Swimming, surfing, fishing, and sun lounging are some of the things I like to do to fill my summer days.  But, bbqs fill up my summer  nights. But all of those activities require some degree of exposed flesh, and you want to look good in that little white sundress or fitted V-neck T-shirt, so you need to be smart this summer. After all, you didn't eat healthy and work out all year just to waste it on a few summer parties full of junk food, right?

But what happens when you're hosting your own party? A summer grill up is a great time to show off lessons learned during your transformation into fitness. Why not host a body-beautifying BBQ?

Here are some of my healthy, fun alternatives to a sexy summer bbq.  (Hint: If you're invited to a potluck get together, you can also use these great ideas to keep your plate healthy and nutritious.)

Drinks - Have a high quality craft brew or two on hand, but that doesn't mean you need to host a frat party. Remember guests are going to bring booze and guests are going to drink booze. The best you can do is have a low-cal white-wine citrus spitzer available and lots of healthy alternatives on hand. Fill pitchers with a variety of iced herbal teas. Offer plenty of water, and fill it with slices of fruit or cucumber to entice your guests to hydrate properly.

Dessert - Given all the yummy seasonal fruits on hand, its a little difficult to select just one.  So I like to sample a variety of fruits by making summer fruit kabobs. They're fun, creative and easy to pick up. Fruit is high in fiber, low in calories, rich in vitamins, and contains no fat.

Main Course - Think PROTEIN!  Ditch the hot dogs and hamburgers and get a little creative.  Conversely, while fish is always great, it can really mess up a grill.  I like to make fish bundles wrapped in foil and placed on the grill.  Choose a nice moist fish like mahi-mahi, salmon, chilean seabass or cod. Take a one-foot-by-one-foot square of aluminum foil and rub it with herbs, lemon and olive oil. Place the fish in the center, wrap it up (not too snug—give it a bit of room to breathe) and place it on the BBQ grill. Leave on the grill for 10 to 12 minutes and you have yourself a nice healthy meal. Fish is high in protein and an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Entertainment - Crank up the tunes, clear the floor, deck, or lawn, and make room for some dancing fools. Dancing is a great form of excersise and who knows you might catch the eye of some hottie and get the digits soon after you get your boogie on.