Grilling safety!!

When I first heard about grilling safety, I thought it meant keeping your kids away from the hot grill.  Little did I know that cooking meats on a grill can be dangerous.  I had always thought grilling was a healthy way to prepare foods!    

Scientists have found that when meat  (red meat, poultry, fish, and pork) are cooked at very hot temperatures, a chemical called heterocyclic amines (HCA) is formed.  If the fat from the meat drips on the source of heat, it also produces smoke that contains even more harmful chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hyrocarbons (PAH). The PAH cling to the meat.  Both of these chemicals are said to be cancer causing.
Does this mean that we shouldn't grill?  No more cookouts?  No more delicious steaks? No!  There are several ways to protect yourself from these chemicals while cooking out.

1.  Start grilling with a clean grate.  Make sure there is no residue from previous barbecues.
2. Chose a lean cut of meat.  The more fat in the meat the more dripping.
3.  Marinate your meat before grill.  This can decrease the harmful chemicals by 90%.
4. Never eat meat that is charred.  Use a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking.
5.  Never grill frozen meats.
6. You can also partially cook your food before grilling.

One thing to note:   Vegetables are very healthy to prepare on a grill.  They do not contain the amino acids that meat do that cause the reactions.

Bottom-line, enjoy your summer, have your cookouts, enjoy that juicy steak!  Just be careful how you prepare your meat and yes, keep those kids away from the grill!!!

Recipes
Delicious Steak marinade                                                    

• 1/3 cup sherry 
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons grated fresh ginger root  (ground is also ok)  ginger is super healthy!
• 1 clove garlic, minced

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, mix sherry, soy sauce, vegetable oil, honey, ginger, and garlic. Marinate steaks for at least 4 hours before grilling as desired.

Chicken Marinade

• 1 egg
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2 cups cider vinegar
• 3 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

1. Crack the egg into a medium bowl and whisk until beaten. Slowly whisk in the oil until fully blended. Then whisk in the vinegar, salt, poultry seasoning, and ground black pepper. Set some of the sauce aside to use for basting while grilling. Place chicken in shallow baking dish, and coat with sauce. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Yummy grilled veggie kabobs

2 zucchini, cut into 2" chunks
2 yellow squash, cut into 2" chunks
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, cleaned
2 red and green bell peppers, cut into 2" chunks
2 medium red onions, cut into wedges
2 ears sweet corn, cut into 2" chunks
16 whole cherry tomatoes
8 ounces teriyaki sauce

Wash vegetables except mushrooms. Brush mushrooms clean. Prepare vegetables according to recipe. Cook corn in boiling water for about 10 minutes. Toss vegetables in teriyaki sauce. Thread vegetables onto skewers. Place on grill over medium-hot heat. Baste occasionally with teriyaki sauce. Grill 20 minutes or until tender.Serving Size: 8

What should you drink?

Today I am posting my list of beverages that should be added to your daily diet!!!

1. Water-- Of course I am going to start with the most basic. Water is necessary for our bodies basic functions! Our bodies weight is made up of 60 percent water! We need it to flush out toxins, and carry nutrients to cells. There has been some concern with water safety and quality. Recently 31 U.S. cities were found to have large amounts of a chemical called hexavalent chromium. It is an industrial chemical that is said to be a carcinogen. The best way to safely enjoy water is to have a water filter. Look for ones that are NSF/Ansi standard 53.

2. Green Tea-- My favorite beverage has to be green tea. I love it hot and cold. Green tea contains a crazy amount of antioxidants that can do a lot of amazing things. They can prevent the growth of cancer cells and even kill cancer cells. The antioxidants are also responsible for lowering cholesterol. Green tea is a great source of vitamins A, D, E, C, B, B5,and K. Some think that it aids in weight loss. Steer clear of bottled green teas. They often are full of additives and sugars. The best way to enjoy is to brew from a bag. It can be made hot or cold!! I try to drink a least 2 cups day!!

3. Vegetable juices-- There is no better way to get your veggies than to have a jucier. With a juicer you can control what veggies you intake and also mix them with fruit to make them taste better. Juicers are fairly inexpensive and fun to use. My kids love using it and are more willing to drinking the juices if they make them themselves. I try to use my juicer twice a week. My favorite mixture it is 2 apples and 8-10 little baby carrots, and a little spinach. The carrot pulp left over can be used in many recipes such as carrot cake! If you don't have a juicer store juices like v-8 low sodium and V-8 fusion light are good drinks. The V8 fusion drinks contain fruit and vegetable juices! Just be sure to get the light!

4. Coffee-- Coffee gets a lot of negative news but all in all it can be a good drink. It is all about quantity and what you put in it. A recent study found that coffee drinkers are less likely to get type 2 diabetes. It is also thought to play a role in preventing strokes in woman. It is also thought to decrease risk for Alzheimer disease and Parkinson disease. It is recommended due to it's high caffeine amount to be avoided by pregnant woman. If you drink one to two cups a day you should be ok. Oh, and limit your fancy cafe mocha, frappé drinks. They can be high in calories!!!

Bottom line is that we all have to drink something to stay alive. Hopefully in this new year you will not only add healthier foods to your daily diet but also add more healthier drinks to your routine. I challenge everyone to cut out or cut back on soda's (diet too) and sugary drinks! Here is an idea: Have a tea party!!!