1st day of summer & grillin' out!

By Carol Harblin (CHHC)

The first day of summer is upon us and by now many people have dusted off their grills and fired them up.

Before we throw on some trite hamburgers and dogs, what else can we grill that is healthier?

I was reading an article about grilling and Gwenneth Paltrow was mentioned....she said she has beautiful memories of her childhood when her dad used to grill in their backyard. Even to this day, she smells a grill smoking and it brings her back to her youth. She enjoys grilling now, but instead of grilling beef burgers (because she doesn't eat beef) she cooks turkey burgers.

What other "burger" can we conjure up for the grill? I can think of salmon burgers, chicken burgers, and there are many vegetables that can be grilled as well - including corn on the cob.

Like Gwenneth, I do not eat beef either. I also do not eat white flour buns either. I use either whole wheat/whole grain, or my newest revelation to burger eating - iceberg lettuce wedges in lieu of the standard bun.

Any vegans out there? There are yummy black bean burgers too. Black beans are the meatless meat. They give you the same amount of hearty protein as a beef burger without the negative cholesterol effects.

Any takers? Before you scowl, just try it! As Westerners of North America - including Canada -
we inundate our taste buds to beef and chicken so much that we can't taste anything else. Our palate is clouded with layers of beef and chicken that we need to open our minds to different kinds of flavors and textures.

Ayurvedic cooking and embracing Indian culture has made me appreciate my taste buds and my open-mindedness to the choices of food and flavors.

By food experimenting and discovering different tastes and styles of food, we are stepping out of the trite beef menu in addition to the higher health risks associated with consuming beef.

Bon Appetit!