Grilled Veggies for a Healthy Low Carb Diet Menu
Healthy low carb diets
Why heat up your kitchen when you can cook an entire meal on the grill as part of a healthy low carb diet menu? There are many types of fresh vegetables available year round, and most of them are especially tasty when grilled. Just about any food tastes better when cooked outside! The possibilities are almost endless, but here are a few of my favorites:
Grilled green beans – For this, you’ll need a wire grill basket, like the kind used to grill fish. Soak fresh beans in salted water for about an hour, then spray them with butter or olive-oil flavored cooking spray. Fill the wire basket with beans and cook over a slow grill until just tender-crisp. Sprinkle with your favorite seasoning and herbs before serving.
grilled whole onion - Peel and remove the core from a large sweet onion (I'm from Georgia, and we like Vidalias), leaving about an inch at the bottom. Remove a tiny
slice from the bottom of the onion, just enough to provide a flat surface so that it will stand on the grill. Fill cavity with one cube of beef bouillon and butter. Wrap in heavy aluminum foil and grill until tender. This is a wonderful low carb diet menu item that’s great with beef.
yellow squash and zucchini - Wash and cut fresh squash lengthwise into 1/2 inch planks. Brush with cooking oil and sprinkle with garlic salt, pepper, and onion powder. Brown on both sides. This low carb diet menu dish is a great complement to just about any type of flesh.
large tomatoes - Wash firm tomatoes and cut in half. Brush cut side with oil and sprinkle
with garlic salt, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Top with a slice of mozzarella or provolone cheese. Grill until cheese melts and tomato is heated.
veggie kabobs - Soak wooden skewers in water for two hours to prevent burning. Thread cherry tomatoes, mushrooms, and one-inch chunks of onions, squash, bell peppers, and
zucchini. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with garlic salt. Grill on
both sides until brown; actually, I prefer mine a little charred.
eggplant - Wash and peel medium sized eggplant. Cut into 1/2 inch planks. Soak in salt water for about an hour, or longer for eggplants that have a lot of seeds. Remove from
brine, pat dry, and brush with oil. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder,
and parmesan cheese. Grill until brown on both sides.
vegetable medley - Wash and cut fresh veggies into 1 1/2 inch pieces. Use any combination of onions, squash, bell peppers, potatoes, mushrooms, zucchini, or egg-
plant. Add broccoli florets, whole Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or whole cherry or grape tomatoes. Make a heavy foil pouch to place vegetables in. Spray with flavored cooking spray, and sprinkle with your choice of seasonings: salt, pepper, garlic, cayenne, and/or parmesan. Close pouch tightly and place on grill, steaming until desired tenderness. This makes a beautiful, colorful side dish. Serve with meat, or sprinkle shredded cheese on top for meatless low carb diet menu offerings.
Grilled vegetables add a delicious, attractive, nutritious accompaniment to any meal. It's easy and fun, and even folks who don't particularly like veggies will be tempted by the smoky aroma and the variety of colors and textures. Experiment with your favorite vegetables and seasonings - it's almost impossible to make a mistake. You're sure to come up with your own family favorites in no time. Grill a piece of meat, fish, or poultry at the same time, and you’ll have a great low carb diet menu!
