Celebrate Father’s Day By Grilling Good-for-You Foods

Even if he doesn’t wear an apron proclaiming it, we all know it’s true—Dad is King of the Grill. Or at least that has always been the case in my family. And while many grilled feasts feature huge steaks and fatty hot dogs, the fact of the matter is that grilling a healthful meal can be super simple and just as delicious as a juicy hamburger. Why not celebrate Father’s Day by introducing Dad to a few flavorful and better-for-you recipes for the grill?

Is Dad a seafood aficionado? You’re in luck! There are loads of great options from the sea that are low in fat and calories but big on being delicious. This Grilled Shrimp with Peppers, Tomatoes and Chimichurri at Whole Living requires a little time for the prep work for the sauce, but you can handle that, right? Or, go with a fish—you can either do a nice citrus marinade with a flaky white fish, like this Florida Citrus Grilled Grouper from the Food Network, or get spicy with this Grilled Blackened Salmon with Pineapple Mango Salsa from For the Love of Cooking.

Remember, you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy veggies on the grill, and during peak season, most need little (if any!) help in the way of seasoning—grilling or roasting them is enough to bring out tons of flavor. Grilled kebabs are easy to customize—this Food.com recipe calls for potatoes, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, peppers and red onion, but don’t stop there. Squash, sweet potatoes, and pineapple make great additions. Plus, you can include pieces of lean beef, chicken or shrimp to mix it up—just go remind Pop to go easy on the sauces or the calories can add up pretty quickly. And you know you’re going back for seconds.

People often discount fruit on the grill (aside from the aforementioned pineapple), but lots of fruits are delicious grilled. Not sure? Try this Grilled Peach recipe from Serious Eats for dessert—just watch how much butter and sugar you load on, and go light on the ice cream (or just use a light plain or vanilla Greek yogurt)!

Do you have any light grilling recipes to share, or tricks of the trade I missed? Be sure to share in the comments! —Kristen