WHATS COOKING?

The holiday weekend is hear and I'm sure everyone has plans at some point to go to a BBQ. I myself love BBQs and all the tasty food that comes with it. A traditional barbecue consists of all of our favorite foods including, hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwursts, fried chicken, chips, dips and a plethora of deserts right? We like to think sure its only one day I can splurge but is the splurge REALLY worth it? When put together these foods can wreak havoc on your waist line. Below is a list of "traditional" barbecue foods and what the calories are in each one.

Hot Dog: 130 calories
Hot Dog Bun: 110
ketchup and Mustard: 30 Calories
Total=270 Calories

Cheeseburger (including bun, condiments and veggies): 360 Calories

Bratwurst: 280 Calories (no bun or condiments)

Fried chicken (Drumstick): 140 Calories

Potato Chips: 150 calories (per oz. on average people put 3-4oz on the plate)

Potato Salad: 356 Calories per cup

Baked Beans: 240 calories per cup

Homemade Lemonade: 156 calories (8oz)

Soda: 100 calories (8oz)

Cheesecake: 580 Calories per slice

Ice Cream: 280 Calories in 1/2 cup

Apple Pie: 411 Calories per slice

Brownie: 243 Calories

Chocolate Chip Cookie: 80 Calories per cookie

Now lets look at the calories in a "normal" plate of food at the bbq.

Plate #1

Cheeseburger with condiments, baked beans, potato salad, chips, 1 brownie and 2 chocolate chip cookies. All of that washed down with a large glass of lemonade.
The grand total calories....... 1,956 Calories!!!!!

THAT IS YOUR CALORIE IN TAKE FOR THE DAY!!!!! You would have to jog for 3.5 hours to burn off all of these calories. NOT FUN!!!

Now lets look at a few little changes and healthier options that will greatly change the calorie count without changing the taste.

Plate #2
BBQ Chicken Breast: 190 Calories

Corn on the Cob (w/tsp butter): 155 Calories

1/2 cup potato salad: 178 Calories

1/2 cup baked beans: 120 Calories

10 watermelon balls: 37 calories

1 cup strawberries (cut in half) w/ light cool whip: 70 calories

Bottle of water: 0 calories

For a grand total of..... 750 Calories!!!! WOW THAT IS A DIFFERENCE OF 1,206 CALORIES!!!!

You would only have to jog for an hour and 15 minutes to burn off this plate of food.

If you ask me making these small adjustments is soo worth it. So when your filling your plate this holiday weekend take an extra second to think about what you are putting on it and how that is going to affect you in the long run...no pun intended!

What are your favorite healthy barbecue recipes?