Fired up! 🔥

As the weather heats up and Spring rolls into Summer, it’s time to fire up the grill. I cook outdoors year round, but for many, longer days lean into backyard bbqs. 

Here are a few #saltswaps to help reduce sodium as the temp rises.

Cheeseburger, Cheeseburger

Burgers are classic. Quick, easy, and completely customizable making them very kid friendly. 

I like to mix in one of my favorite no salt seasonings, especially Extra Spicy, to one pound of 80/20 ground beef and make four quarter pounder patties.

Frozen burger patties are great, too. Some, “all beef,” burgers contain added salt or seasonings to boost the flavor, but a few do offer no salt added.

While, “gourmet burgers,” are available in most supermarkets, they’re often loaded with added salt to give a boost. For your own, mix in an ounce or two of blue cheese crumbles or feta cheese instead of the usual melted cheese on top to make it your own.

If you’re looking for veggie burgers, opt for portobellos over packaged patties. Simply prep the mushrooms with a good wash and a marinade of garlic powder, balsamic vinegar, fresh ground pepper and olive oil. Marinade for 20 minutes before grilling for 3-5 minutes on each side.

Getcha’ Hot Dog!

Nothing says summer like a fire grilled hot dog. With most processed meats, sodium sneaks in fast. 

I prefer 100% all beef hotdogs over other brands. While a serving contains up to 400mg of sodium, as a protein for your lunch or dinner, it can easily be balanced with toppings and even going bunless.

Veggie dogs can have about the same amount of sodium as their meaty inspiration. Opt for vegan or veggie dogs with the least amount of ingredients to help find the best selection (and don’t forget to clean the grill before you throw them on).

Steaky Steak

I love a good steak from the grill. It’s probably my go to if the weather is nice on the weekend (and sometimes when it’s not).

I opt for either a no salt added steak seasoning or a simple marinade of olive oil, reduced sodium worcestershire sauce and fresh ground pepper. Montreal seasoning is great, if used lightly or you can make your own low/no sodium.

Seasoning overnight is key, as is getting the steaks to room temp before throwing on the screaming hot grill.

Pair with grilled corn, zucchini or a baked potato to balance it out!

What’s your favorite from the grill? Share in the comments below!

#StaySalty