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Nutrition Articles  ›  Seasonal & Holiday Tips

Beyond Burgers: Fun Foods You Can Grill

Turn Up the Heat for a Nutritious, Balanced Meal

-- By Sarah Haan, Registered Dietitian
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An outdoor grill lets you cook up a tasty, healthful meal while creating a great atmosphere for chatting with friends and family on a warm summer evening. But after months of grilling out, you may grow tired of the same old chicken breasts and turkey burgers.

Lucky for you, grilling isn’t just for burgers, steaks and chicken! You can use this fantastic backyard appliance to cook up many other foods that you may not have considered grilling!

With so many exciting grilling options, your microwave and oven are going to gather dust during the warmer months. Below are some favorites sure to please a crowd! Get ready to fire up your propane-fueled friend to put a new spin on some of your favorite foods.

Pizza doesn't have to be baked in an oven. Grilling your next homemade pizza will get you out of the hot kitchen. And when you choose the right toppings, your homemade pie will be both healthful and delicious! Grab a premade whole-wheat crust from your local grocer and start piling away! Use your choice of sauce, such as tomato, pesto, barbeque, or plain olive oil, and top with copious amounts of sliced veggies. To keep fat and calories in check, use a small amount of lean meat (or no meat) and watch your cheese portions. Part-skim mozzarella is an excellent choice. Here are some crowd-tested favorites:
  • Olive oil, minced garlic, diced chicken, fresh basil and sun-dried tomatoes
  • Barbecue sauce, canned chunk chicken, sliced onions and diced pineapple
  • Pesto sauce, canned artichokes, mushrooms and low-fat feta cheese
  • Tomato sauce, chopped broccoli, sliced zucchini, banana peppers and sliced tomatoes
Once you’ve chosen your toppings, place the pizza directly onto the grill, close the lid and cover until the cheese is melted and slightly browned. Remove using a large spatula and an oven mitt. Slice and enjoy! Continued ›
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About The Author

Sarah Haan Sarah Haan
Sarah is a registered dietitian with a bachelor's degree in dietetics. She helps individuals adopt healthy lifestyles and manage their weight. An avid exerciser and cook, Sarah likes to run, lift weights and eat good food. See all of Sarah's articles.

Member Comments

  • For my fellow vegans out there who are looking for a tasty alternative I highly recommend the Seitan BBQ Riblets recipe that I found in the SparkPeople Recipes. I baked some up yesterday and today I'm going to throw some more BBQ sauce on them and reheat them on the grill along with some sweet corn! - 9/2/2012 1:22:04 PM
  • KRULAK
    Grilling a pizza is great...on charcoal. You get so much extra flavor. If you use a gas grill you might as well use the oven. Since it does not make a difference in flavor but does keep the heat out of the kitchen. When I cook pizza on the grill I will turn the pizza every 5-7 minutes due to hot spots in charcoal to avoid burning. - 8/29/2012 4:52:34 PM
  • Try fish and prosciutto together on the grill. Amazing, and delicious and easy! http://www.chefmo
    rgan.com/lott
    e-cigare-monk
    fish-cigars this blogger/ chef has other great grilling recipes as well! - 8/28/2012 2:03:21 PM
  • Do your fish on the grill. I love salmon. Put on foil sprayed with oil. Add either pineapple chunks or mango chunks on top, close and grill. Good taste. - 8/13/2012 9:32:33 AM
  • SUCCESSHEL
    I just learned a great trick to shuck cooked corn. Cut off the fat end of the ear about 1/2 inch from the end, right thru the husk. Then start squeezing the ear out from the skinny end . The ear comes out clean and you have the husk silk and all in your hand. You need a pot holder or glove because the corn is hot. Works with ant cooking method( microwave 4 min/ear, boiling) there is a video on you tube. - 7/1/2012 12:49:45 PM
  • Vegetables are just so much better tasting when they are grilled. - 7/1/2012 10:31:19 AM
  • Everything tastes better cooked on the grill and the cleanup is a snap! - 7/1/2012 10:27:39 AM
  • We have George Foremen indoor/outdoor grill. I put the potatoes, onion, carrots, olive oil & Mrs Dash seasoning (anything blend). Put them on them grill direct. I griill about 45 minutes. Done. I like a little char on the them. - 6/15/2012 12:34:18 PM
  • I voted “The flavor of the food” but I wish they would have had an “All of the above” option. My husband usually does most of the grilling, but I like cooking outside too. I usually grill the chicken because he has trouble with it. lol

    I bought a BBQ grill tray from Pampered Chef that I’ve used with vegetables. They also have one for holding burgers or hotdogs I’ve thought about getting. Now they have a BBQ Pizza Pan that would make cooking pizza outside a lot easier. There is a deeper basket and a roasting pan & can holder. I guess that is for a bird and you put a can of liquid seasoning or something in it. A friend of mine has the BBQ vegetable rack and really likes it for grilling potatoes and sweet potatoes.

    Pampered Chef is good, but expensive. I’ve seen some of the items I mentioned at Wal~Mart and at Dollar General.

    We went camping once and my dad and step-brother made a “pizza oven” over the camp fire. Dad had a piece of metal for the bottom part and put it on the rock ring around the fire pit. Then they put some rocks around the edge of the metal to hold the other metal piece on top. The pizzas were really good and had a wood smoke flavor to it too. - 6/15/2012 11:28:03 AM
  • My dad has some huge dietary restriction due to diabetes and kidney disease. No cakes, pastries, cream pies, or any dairy. To make a special dessert for Father's Day, I grilled some fruit and topped it with sugar free non-dairy whipped topping. He loved it. He looked at me a little funny when I presented it to him, but it only took one taste. - 6/10/2012 1:59:52 PM
  • IMMAMACLARE
    Several years ago, when my neighborhood kids were grammar school age, they descended on my back yard when they smelled my grill going. Among other things, I was grilling asparagus which had been marinated in olive oil, lemon juice, a little salt and pepper and fresh basil and oregano from the garden. I was in the habit of treating them to a treat from the ice-cream truck on weekends at the time (It really does take a village!) The poor darlings had never heard of asparagus--so I offered them a taste.

    They went bananas over the asparagus!!!! The greatest gratification came when we heard the tinkling bells and songs of the ice cream truck. I asked, "Who wants ice cream?". Usually, they would have run to the front yard to stop the truck. Instead, this time, they hesitated. After a second or two, little Jay, the youngest, said, "I'd rather have more of that asparagus!!!".

    Apparently, they all told their parents about it when they returned home, because for weeks, whenever I ran into one of their parents, the parents asked about what the hell did I do to asparagus to make their kids ask for it every day. Never underestimate the power of fresh vegetables lightly caramelized over a charcoal grill!!!!! - 3/25/2012 12:07:42 AM
  • AZURE-SKY
    I can grill baking potatoes as well.

    I cut them in half lengthwise, score the cut side, put a little butter OR olive oil on the cut side, then sprinkle with your favorite seasonings. I often use an Italian salt-free blend, or onion/garlic powder & paprika.

    Wrap each 1/2 potato in aluminum foil and grill on both sides. 1/2 potato is 1 serving. - 3/24/2012 2:03:52 PM
  • I was always afraid to grill, it seemed nothing ever was done right. But last summer my husband was in the hospital and it was 50 billion degrees, so I started grilling! Last night I made the best meal EVER on the grill : tiny potatoes, a whole globe of garlic, half a fennel bulb, corn on the cob, a chicken thigh, and some of my home made flatbread! What a feast! and everything was done at the right time!

    Afraid of grilling? just do it! It is so worth it!
    Thanks for the article
    - 3/24/2012 11:01:46 AM
  • Great article! We use our George Foreman indoor grill to do these things, too. I have a shallow baking "plate" that lets me do pizza or quesadillas. Grilled veggies are my favorite! - 11/15/2011 8:11:31 PM
  • We love onions, zucchini, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes. Tastes great as a side or skewered with meat for shih-ka-bob. Yummy!!! - 9/5/2011 1:52:11 PM