Eating and entertaining outside are warm-weather pleasures. Of course, preparing food outdoors is often associated with a menu of grilled meats, charred to perfection. Keep the grill, but replace overcooked hot dogs with healthier choices. And don’t get too carried away when cooking over an open flame. The characteristic char of grilled foods contains acrylamide, a known carcinogen. To reduce the acrylamide formation in grilled foods, remove them from the grill before they get too charred and add high antioxidant herbs and spices to marinades, says Breea Johnson, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., an integrative nutritionist in Chicago. Good-for-you additions include rosemary, olive oil, garlic, lemon, lime or fresh-squeezed orange juice. Or, try spice rubs with cumin or cayenne pepper. Marinades and spice rubs that contain antioxidants will help reduce the harmful effects of the free radicals created when acrylamide is produced, says Johnson. No matter what you throw on the barbie , serve it with a nod to the environment by following our eco-friendly hosting guides.
The Planet-friendly BBQ
“The single most important thing you can do is to make the most of the heat you generate to cook with,” says Derrick Riches, writer of the Barbeque & Grilling Guide at about.com. “Firing up the grill to cook a pair of steaks is a waste. Consider side dishes that can also be grilled to make a complete meal.” More eco-tips:
AVOID LIGHTER FLUID Instead, use a charcoal chimney with natural or lump charcoal made without additives.
CHOOSE BETTER FUEL Gas is more environmentally friendly than charcoal; use natural gas over propane.
KEEP YOUR GRILL CLEAN Brush off your grill grates while they’re still hot. A clean grill works better and produces less air pollution.
The Green Party
When Sara Snow, author of Sara Snow’s Fresh Living (Bantam), hosts a party at her house, she uses it as an opportunity to spread some eco-friendly love. Her advice:
Bug off—naturally Instead of using toxic DEET products to keep mosquitoes away, choose potted plants that repel insects. Try rosemary, marigolds and citronella.
Use breakable china Hit your favorite thrift store and load up on cheap plates, cups and cutlery that used to be someone else’s fine china. It’s easier on the Earth than stocking up on disposables. If you insist, opt for compostable partyware.
Make recycling a cinch Mark one bin “recycling,” one “compost” and another “garbage”—and print out a list of what goes where.
Cook just enough Get an accurate head count so you don’t end up with tons of leftovers. If it’s hard to estimate how much food you’ll go through, have a plan for what’s left (for example, bring extras to a homeless shelter).
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