Healthy Grilling with the Sears

Summer picnics and grilling is a tradition that is anticipated every year but making healthy grilled meals can be easier said than done. The Sears family uses their grill throughout the year to make a Sears favorite — delicious cedar plank salmon. When grilling, be sure to avoid:

• Over cooking: Overcooking can lead to dry food and a stronger fishy flavor when cooking fish. To prevent dryness, turn your grill on high and quickly sear both sides of your meat to lock in the juices. Then, reduce the heat and finish cooking.
• Charbroiling your food: The charbroil on the meat contains harmful, cancer-causing carcinogens.
• Cross-contamination: It can be very dangerous if raw meat comes into contact with other food, utensils, or plates. Carry your grilling items in one cooler and all your other food in another to avoid food-borne illnesses.
• High Fructose Corn Syrup: This sneaky ingredient is in many dressings, BBQ sauces, beverages, and even bread! Always read the ingredients list and either choose a different option or make your own! Here’s a simple, delicious BBQ sauce recipe that you can make from ingredients you probably already have at home!

Healthy BBQ Sauce Recipe

• 1 cup Organic tomato ketchup
• 1/2 cup Vinegar
• 1/3 cup Honey
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 tsp Chili Powder
• 1/2 tsp Onion Powder

Easy BBQ Sauce Recipe

• 2 cups organic tomato ketchup
• 2 tsp cider vinegar
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar
• 2 Tbsp blackstrap molasses
• ½ tsp liquid smoke (or to taste)
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ¼ cup chopped onion

For added sweetness and a tropical flair, add ½ cup of puréed canned pineapple.