19 Healthy Alternatives to Popular Barbecue Foods

Corn on the cob is a barbecue staple. It is usually spread with butter and salt. A quick and healthier option is to boil the corn in milk and cinnamon before grilling it. The corn ends up being sweeter because the milk brings out the vegetable’s sweetness.

Charred green onions are an easy and healthy side dish to a barbecue dinner — if you’re watching your carbs. To cook them you can put them directly on the barbecue or in a hot griddle pan.

Tomatoes are great for grilling. Cooking tomatoes brings out more of their flavor. Grilling caramelizes the tomatoes’ natural sugar, giving them a rich flavor. Ketchup is sweet, too, but the condiment contains added sugars and is high in calories compared to regular tomatoes.

Sugar-free foods and drinks are marketed as a healthier option than regular juices or sodas. But sugar-free options are often loaded with artificial sweeteners, which can be much sweeter than sugar, to make up for the lost taste. Instead, make fresh ice tea, experimenting with flavors like mint, lemon, raspberries, or anything else you can think of.