Celebrate Nunavut day!

With the arrival of the month of July comes the celebration of Nunavut day!

What better way to celebrate then sharing a barbeque with friends and family? Enjoying and sharing food with others is such an important part of life. Let’s talk about some healthy swaps or additions we can make to our barbeque celebrations.

Switch that for this:

• Choose whole wheat over white burger and hot dog buns OR use large leaves of iceberg lettuce to wrap up your burger patty
• Grill up some burgers instead of hot dogs – beef burgers are a great source of protein and iron
• Check out our post on building a healthy burger for some great burger swaps including using tomato salsa in place of ketchup and dill pickles in place of sweet relish- this can help keep sugar low
• Grilled corn on the cob makes a great side dish. Instead of basting with butter use olive oil or add other seasoning/flavourings- chilli powder and lime juice is a great combo.
• Plain yogurt or blended tofu makes a great substitute for mayonnaise or sour cream as a condiment or in salads
• Switch out pop for bottled water, cans of flavoured sparkling water or zero sugar sodas
• Freeze yogurt tubes to handout out in place of ice cream or freezies- not only are these a source of calcium they are lower in sugar while still being creamy and delicious

Add these on:

• Make burgers with lean meats like lean ground beef, turkey or chicken pack a protein punch while keeping the saturated fat low.
• Patties made with fish like salmon or arctic char can help add healthy omega 3 fats to your day
• Throw some plant-based burgers on the grill. Burgers made from soy or beans are a great source of plant powered protein and fibre! Check out our post on how to use plant-based products.
• Use grilled vegetables like mushrooms, onions, red peppers and tomatoes as burger toppings – adding some fibre and a kick of vitamin C
• Cut up fruits and vegetables and thread onto a skewer for fruit and vegetable kebabs- these make a great handheld treat that can be enjoyed grilled or raw
• Have a big bowl of apples available for people to grab
• Add fruit and vegetables like cucumber and fresh herbs like mint to a pitcher of water for a flavourful refreshing drink.

No matter what foods you’re having it is important that they are safe to eat. Check out our post on food safety to learn more about the steps you can take to make sure no one gets sick: clean, separate, cook and chill!