If you’re trying to eat healthy at barbecues, you may think filling your plate up with salad is the right thing to do. Unfortunately, a lot of the time, the salads at barbecues contain just as many calories as the processed burgers or hot dogs on offer. For example, most Caesar salads and ranch salads contain over 500 calories per serving. The reason for this is that while the meats and vegetables these salads contain are relatively light, the salad dressings are absolutely loaded with calories.
The good news is that by getting a little creative in the kitchen, you can come up with your own healthy salad dressings and create light, tasty, low calorie salads for the barbecues you host or attend. Today I’m going to help you do exactly that by providing you with 5 Healthy & Natural BBQ Salad Recipes To Try.
To prepare each of these healthy and natural salad recipes you will need the following equipment…
– 1 Food Processor
– 1 Saucepan
– 1 Sealable Container
– 1 Serving Bowl
– 1 Serving Spoon
– 1 Wooden Spoon
1) Healthy & Natural Caesar Salad Recipe
As I mentioned at the beginning of this article, most Caesar salads pack over 500 calories per serving. The reason for this is that just 1 tablespoon of standard Caesar dressing contains a whopping 78 calories. This healthy and natural Caesar salad recipe cuts the calories in the dressing down to just 20 per tablespoon and provides you with a much lighter but equally tasty salad.
Ingredients:
– 120ml Of Yoghurt
– 2 Tablespoons Of Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese (36g)
– 2 Teaspoons Of Healthy & Natural Mayonnaise (12ml)
– 2 Teaspoons Of Mustard (12ml)
– 2 Teaspoons Of White Wine Vinegar (12ml)
– 2 Teaspoons Of Worcester Sauce (12ml)
– 1 Clove Of Crushed Garlic (3g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Black Pepper (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Salt (6g)
– 1/2 Finely Chopped Head Of Romaine Lettuce (313g)
Instructions:
1. Add the garlic and parmesan cheese to the food processor and blend until they are both finely chopped.
2. Add the black pepper, mustard, mayonnaise, salt, white wine vinegar, Worcester sauce and yoghurt to the food processor and blend until the mixture reaches the desired consistency (this usually takes about 30 seconds).
3. Add the romaine lettuce to the sealable container, pour the blended mixture on top, stir well with the wooden spoon, seal and then put the container in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the Caesar dressing to fully soak into the romaine lettuce.
4. When it’s time for the barbecue, remove the sealable container from the fridge.
5. If you are hosting the barbecue, pour the healthy and natural Caesar salad into the serving bowl, add a serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food. Alternatively, if you’re attending the barbecue, bring the sealable container with you, ask your host if you can borrow a serving bowl and serving spoon when you arrive and then pour the healthy and natural Caesar salad into the serving bowl, add the serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food.
Calories:
– 412 Calories Total (532g)
– 103 Calories Per Serving (133g)
2) Healthy & Natural Ranch Salad Recipe
Ranch salad is another favourite that you’ll find on offer at many barbecues. Unfortunately, like Caesar salad, it often packs over 500 calories per serving and isn’t as slimming as it first appears. The good news is that with this healthy and natural ranch salad recipe you can cut the total calories down to just 67 per serving without losing that classic Ranch salad taste.
Ingredients:
– 200ml Of Cottage Cheese
– 50ml Of Milk
– 5 Halved Cherry Tomatoes (85g)
– 2 Tablespoons Of Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese (36g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Black Pepper (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Dried Dill (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Dried Parsley (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Garlic Powder (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Onion Powder (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Salt (6g)
– 1/2 Finely Chopped Head Of Iceberg Lettuce (270g)
Instructions:
1. Add the black pepper, cottage cheese, dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, milk, onion powder, parmesan cheese and salt to the food processor and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the cherry tomatoes and iceberg lettuce to the sealable container, pour the blended mixture on top, stir well with the wooden spoon, seal and then put the container in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the ranch dressing to fully soak into the cherry tomatoes and iceberg lettuce.
4. When it’s time for the barbecue, remove the sealable container from the fridge.
5. If you are hosting the barbecue, pour the healthy and natural ranch salad into the serving bowl, add a serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food. Alternatively, if you’re attending the barbecue, bring the sealable container with you, ask your host if you can borrow a serving bowl and serving spoon when you arrive and then pour the healthy and natural ranch salad into the serving bowl, add the serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food.
Calories:
– 268 Calories Total (676g)
– 67 Calories Per Serving (169g)
3) Healthy & Natural Green Pea Salad Recipe
Green peas are a fantastic health boosting food and contain high levels of fibre, manganese and various vitamins. Unfortunately, the creamy, ranch style dressing that is often added to green pea salads is very heavy in calories and as a result most green pea salads weigh in at 300+ calories. This healthy and natural green pea salad recipes removes over 50% of the calories, leaving you with a great tasting salad that contains just 145 calories per serving.
Ingredients:
– 200ml Of Cottage Cheese
– 150g Of Green Peas
– 50ml Of Milk
– 1 Chopped Large Carrot (72g)
– 1 Chopped Large Red Pepper (164g)
– 2 Tablespoons Of Finely Grated Parmesan Cheese (36g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Black Pepper (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Dried Dill (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Dried Parsley (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Garlic Powder (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Onion Powder (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Salt (6g)
Instructions:
1. Add the black pepper, cottage cheese, dried dill, dried parsley, garlic powder, milk, onion powder, parmesan cheese and salt to the food processor and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the carrot, green peas and red pepper to the sealable container, pour the blended mixture on top, stir well with the wooden spoon, seal and then put the container in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the ranch style dressing to fully soak into the carrot, green peas and red pepper.
4. When it’s time for the barbecue, remove the sealable container from the fridge.
5. If you are hosting the barbecue, pour the healthy and natural green pea salad into the serving bowl, add a serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food. Alternatively, if you’re attending the barbecue, bring the sealable container with you, ask your host if you can borrow a serving bowl and serving spoon when you arrive and then pour the healthy and natural green pea salad into the serving bowl, add the serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food.
Calories:
– 580 Calories Total (708g)
– 145 Calories Per Serving (177g)
4) Healthy & Natural Sweet Potato Salad Recipe
Potato salad is yet another popular dish that you’re likely to find at barbecues this summer. However, while most potato salads are tasty and filling, they’re generally not the best thing to be eating if you want to lose weight and often pack 350+ calories per serving. This healthy and natural sweet potato salad cuts the calories down to just 157 per serving and is also packed with plenty of vitamins and minerals, making it a much better option if you’re trying to lose weight.
Ingredients:
– 100ml Of Sour Cream
– 50ml Of Yoghurt
– 1 Cooked, Chopped Large Sweet Potato (180g)
– 1 Chopped Large Onion (150g)
– 1 Chopped Small Cucumber (158g)
– 1 Tablespoons Of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (18ml)
– 1 Tablespoon Of Healthy & Natural Mayonnaise (18ml)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Black Pepper (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Salt (6g)
Instructions:
1. Add the black pepper, extra virgin olive oil, healthy and natural mayonnaise, salt, sour cream and yoghurt to the food processor and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the onions and sweet potato to the sealable container, pour the blended mixture on top, stir well with the wooden spoon, seal and then put the container in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the dressing to fully soak into the onions and sweet potato.
3. When it’s time for the barbecue, remove the sealable container from the fridge.
4. If you are hosting the barbecue, pour the healthy and natural sweet potato salad into the serving bowl, add a serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food. Alternatively, if you’re attending the barbecue, bring the sealable container with you, ask your host if you can borrow a serving bowl and serving spoon when you arrive and then pour the healthy and natural sweet potato salad into the serving bowl, add the serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food.
Calories:
– 608 Calories Total (688g)
– 157 Calories Per Serving (172g)
5) Healthy & Natural Coleslaw Recipe
Coleslaw is a tasty side dish and perfectly complements most barbecue foods. It’s also a relatively light choice and contains just 190 calories per serving. This healthy and natural coleslaw recipe cuts even more calories out of your coleslaw while maintaining the same great taste and contains just 71 calories per serving.
Ingredients:
– 50ml Of Yoghurt
– 1 Grated Large Carrot (72g)
– 1 Grated Large Onion (150g)
– 1 Tablespoon Of Healthy & Natural Mayonnaise (18ml)
– 1 Tablespoon Of Mustard (18ml)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Black Pepper (6g)
– 1 Teaspoon Of Salt (6g)
– 1/2 Grated Small Head Of White Cabbage (357g)
Instructions:
1. Add the black pepper, healthy and natural mayonnaise, mustard, salt and yoghurt to the food processor and blend until the mixture becomes smooth.
2. Add the carrot, onions and white cabbage to the sealable container, pour the blended mixture on top, stir well with the wooden spoon, seal and then put the container in the fridge for a minimum of 4 hours to allow the dressing to fully soak into the carrot, onions and white cabbage.
4. When it’s time for the barbecue, remove the sealable container from the fridge.
5. If you are hosting the barbecue, pour the healthy and natural coleslaw into the serving bowl, add a serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food. Alternatively, if you’re attending the barbecue, bring the sealable container with you, ask your host if you can borrow a serving bowl and serving spoon when you arrive and then pour the healthy and natural coleslaw into the serving bowl, add the serving spoon and place it outside with the rest of the food.
Calories:
– 284 Calories Total (676g)
– 71 Calories Per Serving (169g)
Summary
With these healthy and natural salad recipes you can take control of the calories in your salad and ensure that you don’t unwittingly sabotage your summer weight loss efforts at barbecues. The best part is that each one of the salads featured tastes just as good as the original, high calorie alternative.
So before your next barbecue, get in the kitchen, give these healthy, natural salads a go and let me know what you think. Also, if you have any of your own healthy and natural salad recipes that you want to share, be sure to let me know by leaving them in the comments section below.