Summertime can come with spending lots of time outdoors, especially when the temperature drops later in the day. Grilling can be a great way to enjoy the outdoors while cooking up an amazing meal. There are so many activities that can go with grilling from cookouts to the backyard games. But before getting started its important to note that some things are certainly healthier to grill than others, and there are some safety precautions to be aware of. Let’s get started.

Grilling can help lower your calorie intake and can even help with weight loss. This is because when grilling, excess fats will melt and drip off the grilling racks as opposed to other forms of cooking that allow foods to cook in their own fat. Grilling helps food keep more of its vitamins and minerals because it takes less time to cook. It also helps seal in the moisture leaving you with a juicy meal. A reduced fat intake can help lower bad cholesterol levels which in turn can improve your cardiovascular health. It is always best to go lean when you grill. Try buying lean cuts of beef, pork, or skinless chicken. Stay away from processed meats such as sausages or hot dogs, as those are still high in fat. Add a marinade to your food to infuse more flavor into it. Marinating your meat will cut back on the formation of HCAs, a carcinogen formed when cooking meat, poultry or fish at high temperatures by 92-99% according to some studies on WebMD. Meats and poultry should marinate for 1-2 hours. Fish and vegetables are usually good to go after an hour. Try grilling smaller portions to reduce the amount of time they are on the grill. Smaller portions will also help with portion control. Remember to flip your food frequently. Skewers can also be a great way to add more flavor to whatever you are grilling. Try grilling these fruits and vegetables:

●     Tomatoes

●     Onions

●     Bell Peppers

●     Zucchini

●     Mushrooms

●     Eggplant

●     Endive

●     Pineapple

●     Mango

●     Apple

●     Pear

Now that you have a grasp on what to grill, time to host a cookout! Having a cookout provides the perfect opportunity to get together with friends and family. Maybe your cookout even goes into the night for some s’mores by a bonfire! Try hosting a cookoff on the grill with your closest friends and throw in a mysterious ingredient to spice things up! Have a family dinner and maybe even try smoking your ingredients for some extra flair. Grilling also allows for you to soak in extra vitamin D by cooking outdoors. Try hosting some parties and start cooking your favorite dishes! There are so many social possibilities to go with cooking meals on the grill.

Grilling and cooking sure can be fun, until you unintentionally get hurt. You could very easily burn yourself or the grill can malfunction and cause damage to you and your surroundings if you are not careful. According to the National Fire Protection Association, 10,000+ fire accidents involve grills every year. Stay safe, try to involve these best practices when grilling so you can enjoy grilling safely:

-       Keep your grill as far away as possible from your house and away from any overhangs

-       Clean your grill REGULARLY to avoid the buildup of grime

-       Check for potential leaks

-       Keep decorations or anything extraneous away from the grill

-       Make sure to have a fire extinguisher in case the flames get wild

Now that summer is here, cooking inside is no longer necessary. Take cooking outdoors with a grill! Try upping your cooking prowess by including a grill, not only for the variety that a grill brings but for the health advantages of grilling. So long pan frying! Goodbye baking! Grilling will cook the fat out of your meats and provide alternate ways to cook your vegetables or fruits. If you don’t have a grill already, be sure to get/find a public one and get creative with your newfound cooking skills.