**The content on Healthy Farmhouse is based on our family’s personal experiences and may not be the perfect fit for everyone. Prior to checking out these healthy grilling tips or reading any other health-related information on this site, I encourage you to read our full Health Disclosure to learn more.

Grilling Healthy

I feel like sometimes grilling gets a bad rap, you guys.

That said, it’s one of our main ways to cook over the summer months.

Either way, if you are ready to start grilling healthier this summer, check out these simple grilling tips for getting started!

4 Healthy Grilling Tips

I am always, always on the lookout for ways to help my family be healthier.

That said, grilling is one of our favorite ways to eat in the summer and has become my main focus.

So, needless to say, finding ways to up our grilling game and make it an even healthier option for our family was a must.

So far, these are the healthy grilling tips I’ve learned and started implementing.

Check them out, you guys!

• Grill Healthier Options

While picking more wholesome ingredients can make any dish healthier, it’s even more important when it comes to grilling.

Since grilling can expose foods to extra carcinogens, it’s essential to lean on more natural options and leaner meats to cut down on toxins entering the body

For example, swap out those processed dogs and fatty burgers for leaner options like grilled salmon or more vitamin-rich veggies!

That said, I’m also a firm believer that, in moderation, red meats and fats are good for our overall well-being, and I’m definitely a beef eater, you guys!

It’s also important to lean on organic herbs, seasonings, and marinades whenever possible!

Most conventional seasonings and marinades are filled with extra junk and toxic ingredients, including the popular MSG.

So, next time you’re ready to toss something on the grill, skip the store-bought BBQ sauce and lean on oils, herbs, and homemade marinades instead! 

• Keep the Temp in Check

When it comes to grilling, temperature matters, you guys!

High temps, overcooking over an open flame, and charring meat will produce more carcinogens, which can mean bad things for your overall health.

So, keeping that temp in check is ideal if you want to grill healthier.

The risks of cooking your meat or veggies over an open flame or using higher heat grills can greatly increase the levels of HCAs and PAHs in your food.

While my husband prefers cooking with charcoal, and it will likely always be our go-to method, there are rumors of gas grills being a healthier option, and it might be worth checking into for your family!

• Practice Safe Cooking

I’m just going to say it, this one applies to more than just grilling, you guys!

Proper hand washing and raw meat handling are essential for staying healthy, grill or no grill!

Keep things clean and safe while grilling by cleaning charred food off your grill, using a thermometer to make sure food is thoroughly cooked, and by swapping out utensils and plates that were used for raw meat.

For example, when we grill burgers, we place all raw beef patties on a plate to transfer to the grill. Once the burger patties make it to the grill, that plate goes in the sink, and I grab a fresh one for the cooked patties!

Easy, peasy!

We also have family members with specialty diets (such as being gluten-free and soy-free), so we have gotten pretty good at no cross-contamination when cooking and grilling.

• Skip the Foil

Lastly, and this is a huge one, skip the aluminum foil, you guys!

I’m not going to lie, we have been using foil for years, and we have only recently begun cutting it out.

That said, cooking foods in aluminum foil over high heat can cause the possible leaching of toxins into your food.

Plus, overexposure, both due to cooking and hygiene products, has been linked to many health issues, including cancer.

My mom was directly told by her doctor never to use deodorant containing aluminum again, as it would likely cause her breast cancer to return.

So, needless to say, if you can skip the aluminum, skip it!

Opt for grilling in baskets or cast iron instead.

Healthy Grilling Tidbits

We are exposed to toxicity everywhere we go, but it isn’t a reason to stop living our lives.

So, you know what, you guys? We are totally going to keep grilling over here!

Cooking out isn’t something we do year-round, but we truly love the experience over the summer months (and for my holiday turkey).

So, trying not to overcook our meat, swapping conventional seasonings for organic herbs and seasonings free of MSG, and leaning on healthy options without the use of aluminum foil are simple swaps we can make to turn our grilling experience into a less toxic environment.

So, if grilling healthier is your goal, just focus on minor swaps and keep on living!

Healthy Grilled Eats

Ready to cook up something healthy? Take your next backyard barbeque beyond these healthy grilling tips and cook up something fabulous!

Check out our full line-up of healthy grilling recipes to get your hands on some amazing eats.