Summer will hit the mitten state before we know it, and warmer weather means cooking and eating outdoors.
When you think of a Backyard BBQ, hamburgers, hot dogs and sides like potato salad come to mind. But grilling out doesn’t have to mean a lot of extra calories and fat with the help of these healthy tips and recipes. Skip the traditional burgers, dogs and brats and use your grill all summer long for healthier fare — for all meals — with this healthier grilling recipe roundup. Plus, if you’re a Michigan camper — many of these make great campsite delights!
Breakfast
Eggs on the grill? Yes, please. If you have a cast iron pan, these easy scrambled eggs bring breakfast outside. Change up the spices and type of cheese with your favorites. Make eggs even fancier by poaching them and serving with grilled asparagus and serrano ham— a delicious way to sneak veggies into your morning meal. If a handheld breakfast burrito is more your style, try these spinach breakfast burritos on the grill. Leaner turkey sausage is heart healthy and spinach is a “superfood” high in iron, calcium and vitamins.
On the sweeter side, grilled fruit tastes amazing! Heat up these easy breakfast skewers that include your protein along with the sweetness of grilled pineapple. Other fun fruit combos? Grilled watermelon with honey glazed mandarin or ginger glazed honeydew offer a healthy, flavorful first meal of the day. If you’re thinking French toast can only be made indoors — think again. 
This cinnamon orange vanilla combo is delicious, or go campfire style with this blueberry cinnamon bread. The nutritional benefits of blueberries are almost endless — they’re packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants.
Lunch
Your midday meal can really get nutritious when you ditch the hot dogs and experiment with new grilling recipes.
If you’re craving a burger, but not the extra calories, these portobello burgers give you that All American flavor, at only 275 calories per serving. They’re also vegetarian, nut-free and high in calcium. Or, grill up these turkey zucchini burgers with corn on the cob have a healthy 21g of protein to keep you full until dinnertime.
If you’re thinking wings, don’t order fried carryout. Grill up your own with this healthier version of chicken wings that are both sweet and spicy thanks to a sauce made with honey and harissa — with crunchy carrots and celery on the side.
Pizza on the grill? Yes, you can! This grilled taco pizza cooks fast with whole wheat dough and lean ground beef (or sub ground turkey or chicken), plus pinto beans for added protein. Top it how you like it for a fun Mexican flare to your lunchtime grilling.
Dinner
One word can make dinnertime grilling easy and fun: kebabs. There are so many kebab combo recipes out there for you to grill up — from chicken to fish and shrimp. And if you are really into kebabs, you might want to invest in some reusable skewers.
These mojito marinated chicken kebabs will make you feel like you’re on a tropical vacation, but unlike a sugary cocktail — they’re low in calories and high in protein to keep you full and satisfied.
Or, try these grilled Mediterranean salmon kebabs loaded with flavor and fresh green beans on the side. Salmon is another superfood, with healthy fats along with Vitamins B and D, which help boost energy.
If you like shrimp better than salmon, try these shrimp kebabs with peppers. The slaw on the side adds a nice crunch and shrimp is a rich source of protein high in several vitamins and minerals.
If you’re craving a big steak on the grill, try this skirt steak with corn tomato relish — the thinner cut of meat lightens up the calories and fat, but the flavor is still there. Or for an even leaner, but still satisfying grilled meat, try this grilled pork tenderloin with cherries — a famous Michigan fruit that studies have shown can help ease muscle soreness after exercise.
Pining for pasta? Use your grill to add extra flavor. This grilled asparagus shrimp pasta is lighter and better for you with whole grain linguini, low sodium chicken broth and fresh asparagus. Asparagus contains high levels of flavonoids, which can help protect your cells from harmful free radicals that can lead to cancer and certain age-related diseases. The compounds within asparagus have also been found to lower blood pressure and reduce inflammation.
Sides
If you need a side or two for your main dish, try one of these grilled delights. They’re also excellent options if you need to bring a dish to pass to a summer outing. This avocado corn salad is full of color AND flavor. Avocadoes are a great source of monounsaturated fats — that’s one of the good ones.
If you love corn on the cob in the summer, spice it up with this grilled Mexican version. It’s a street corn dish known as “esquites” — with spices, lime and creaminess that can turn an ordinary Michigan corn on the cob into a flavorful delight.
Grilling any kind of veggies is easy — especially if you use grill mats or grill baskets with your favorite oil and spices — and skewers work great, too! If you haven’t stocked your supplies yet, try these grilled vegetable packets — all you need is some foil. You can change up the seasonings and veggies depending on what you have in the fridge — and sub olive oil for butter.
If your family is more of a “meat and potato” kind of crew, you can save your oven for colder weather and make baked potatoes on the grill using foil and some spices. If you’re ready to go bold with grilled veggies, this colorful grilled eggplant and summer squash salad makes a pretty side dish that’s also heart healthy and gluten free.
Dessert
A sweet and still healthy ending is possible on the grill by combining fresh fruit with fun sauce combinations. Try one of these delicious options to wrap up your BBQ with a burst of summertime sweetness. Just be sure to keep serving sizes smaller to minimize too much sugar intake.
- Grilled pineapple and strawberry skewers with bourbon white chocolate glaze
- Grilled pears with cinnamon drizzle
- Grilled peaches with honey and cream
- Grilled nectarines and plumes with vanilla bean syrup
Now that you have a slew of recipe ideas for every meal, it’s time to get grilling Michigan. If you need even more inspiration — check out your local farmers market for in-season finds or if you prefer delivery, there are several ways to get fresh produce right to your door. Happy grilling!
