12 BBQ Foods for 250 Calories (or Less)
Picnic spreads are often chock-full of belly-busting dishes. Be the star of the potluck with these flavorful and sensible options — each has less than 250 calories per serving.
Cherry Tomato Salad with Buttermilk-Basil Dressing (pictured above)
This tomato salad is anything but ordinary. It’s bursting with summer flavors for less than 100 calories per serving.
Grilled Eggplant with Yogurt and Mint
This simple and delicious eggplant recipe can be served as a side dish or as a topper for sandwiches.
Ingredients
1 large 1 ½-pound eggplant
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup 2-percent Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon dried mint
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Pinch cayenne pepper
Stripe the eggplant with a vegetable peeler and cut into ½-inch-thick slices. Sprinkle the eggplant slices generously with salt, place in a colander and let sit 30 minutes. Rinse the eggplant under cold water and pat thoroughly dry.
Meanwhile, combine the olive oil and garlic in a small glass cup, and microwave just until the oil is hot and bubbling, about 20 seconds. Whisk together the yogurt, mint, cumin, cayenne, 2 tablespoons water and salt to taste in a small bowl.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare an outdoor grill for medium-heat cooking. Brush the eggplant slices on both sides with the oil and garlic mixture. Grill until the eggplant is browned and tender, moving and turning the slices frequently, about 15 minutes. Drizzle the mint sauce onto the eggplant slices.
Cook’s Note: When grilling the eggplant, watch carefully to make sure that the slices cook evenly. Moving them frequently will help you avoid scorching them on the hotter parts of the grill before they cook all the way through. If you’re using a grill pan, you’ll want to cook the slices in 2 batches to avoid crowding the pan.
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchens
Foil-Packet Corn
Forget about a big pot of boiling water and make corn on the grill infused with fresh summer herbs.
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Black Bean Salad
Make this salad for a few or for a crowd — black beans boost the fiber and protein, making it extra satisfying.
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Grilled Corn Salad with Lime, Red Chili and Cotija
Grill corn to give it a smoky flavor, then toss in a spicy dressing. This recipe also stays guilt-free at 137 calories per serving.
Grilled Panzanella Recipe
Wow guests with this salad that can be served as a main course. It’s just as beautiful as it is tasty.
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Sweet Potato Salad
It may seem like an odd combination, but this healthy salad is creamy, colorful and naturally sweet.
Garlic-Mustard Grilled Beef Skewers
Keep lean beef juicy and flavorful with a sweet and spicy glaze.
Grilled Shrimp in Lettuce Leaves with Serrano Mint Sauce
Low-calorie and quick-cooking shrimp make perfect finger food for a backyard gathering. This recipe features lots of fresh herbs and veggies, and it is only 166 calories per serving.
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Sweet and Spicy Grilled Salmon
Get a dose of good-for-you Omega-3 fats from this salmon, complete with a spicy sauce and a cool and crunchy slaw.
Grilled Peaches with Cinnamon-Sugar Butter
Keep the grill fired up for dessert! You can enjoy this sweet treat for less than 200 calories per serving.
Foil-Packet Upside-Down Cakes
You can never have too many grilled desserts, and with foil packets, cleanup is a breeze.
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition.
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