Fire up the grill

By Sidra Forman, Best Life chef You can smell summer in the air—the warm breezes, the fragrant flowers, and even the aroma of sunblock. But my favorite summer scent is the smoky smell of barbecue. In my opinion, grilling is one of the best ways to cook. First, you can't beat the time factor: Virtually no planning or prep is required. And more importantly, it's so easy to create healthful meals because barbecuing adds flavor to foods without having to use a lot of fat. In fact, you can even enjoy the classics (like steaks and hamburgers), and still keep your calories in check. Use these tips to create a healthy, tasty meal on the barbecue. Get ready to fire up the grill! Make a better burger. Use lean beef (95 percent), or try a buffalo burger with naturally lean ground buffalo meat, a turkey burger or a veggie burger. Choose a slim steak. Lean cuts, such as a T-bone, sirloin and flank steak, are your best bet. These are great on the grill especially if they are marinated for about 15 minutes and not overcooked. Again, Buffalo steaks are a good choice because they're naturally lean. Grill your veggies. Throw corn on the cob right on the grill instead of boiling it for a more intense roasted flavor. Or feel free to experiment: Just about any other veggie works, including sweet peppers, onions, fennel, summer squash, whole leaves of hearty greens such as kale, or wedges of cabbage or radicchio. Enjoy chicken stripped. Be sure to remove the skin (it's loaded with saturated fat), and marinate before cooking to keep chicken moist and flavorful. Source