"Barbecue" is known for its strict ingredient selection, resulting in tender and flavorful meat. Grilling and eating it oneself, accompanied by fine wine, creates a unique culinary experience. It is said to be a traditional food of the ancient northern nomadic peoples, once known as "tent food." It also ascended to the halls of royalty as a delicacy in the imperial court. Today, barbecue remains a favorite for many, but it is high in calories, and overindulgence can lead to weight gain, putting those on a diet in a difficult position. Therefore, it's important to master a healthy approach to eating barbecue.
Enjoy barbecue guilt-free! Healthy ways to eat barbecue in winter
1. Pair it with a large amount of vegetables
Before the barbecue begins, restaurants often serve complimentary side dishes like spicy kimchi and seaweed. Be sure to eat them. If you're ordering additional sides, try to choose ones that are fruits or vegetables.
During the meal, restaurants typically provide lettuce for wrapping the meat. This is the most crucial part of the barbecue experience, so be sure to eat plenty of lettuce. While many people enjoy dipping the meat in barbecue sauce, it's recommended to adopt the "lettuce wrap" method! If you run out of vegetables, restaurants also offer vegetable platters specifically for this purpose.
2. Don't drink alcohol
Besides the meat itself, drinking alcohol is the second leading cause of weight gain during a barbecue. Be sure to refuse beer and sweet cocktails.
3. Eat more antioxidant-rich foods.
The grilling process can produce carcinogens. To counter this, pair your meal with foods rich in antioxidant nutrients. Vegetables high in vitamins C and A are a good choice. You can use bell peppers, carrots, and onions as ingredients for the skewers. For marinating, use generous amounts of scallions, garlic, and ginger. You can also use mushrooms like shiitake and button mushrooms.
4. Beware of the "sweet trap"—don't add honey
Many people love to brush honey onto their barbecue to enhance the flavor, but they might not realize that one tablespoon of honey contains 65 calories, significantly increasing the calorie intake! If you want to add flavor while staying healthy, nutritionists suggest using less honey and opting for natural seasonings like black pepper and mustard to give the food a more robust, wild flavor.
5. For the staple food, choose rice over noodles
Many people skip the staple food when eating barbecue, but this is not conducive to a balanced diet. It's best to choose a staple food. From a weight-loss perspective, ramen is high in calories, so pairing your meal with rice or soup is the best option.
6. Strictly control dessert
After the barbecue, restaurants often offer complimentary fruit, dessert, and ice cream. For those on a diet, it's best to stay away from desserts entirely—not even one bite. You can, however, eat plenty of fruit.
7. Make good use of aluminum foil.
Laying a sheet of aluminum foil on the grill can prevent carcinogens from coming into direct contact with the food. You can also wrap the food in aluminum foil before grilling it.