Staying Healthy

Grill your way to better health

By , Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Swap old standbys, such as burgers and hot dogs, for healthier options at your next cookout.

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It’s sweltering outside, and the last thing you want to do is heat up the oven and your house. It’s time to fire up the grill and move your meals outside. But this year, instead of reaching for your traditional burgers and steak tips, consider branching out and trying some more nutritious options at your summer cookouts.

Grilled meat — in particular red meat — has garnered some negative attention from nutritionists in recent years, because in addition to its less-than-stellar nutritional profile, it’s been shown to generate potentially cancer-causing compounds — called heterocyclic amines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — when cooked on a grill.

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About the Author

photo of Kelly Bilodeau

Kelly Bilodeau, Former Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch

Kelly Bilodeau is the former executive editor of Harvard Women’s Health Watch. She began her career as a newspaper reporter and later went on to become a managing editor at HCPro, a Boston-area healthcare publishing company, … See Full Bio
View all posts by Kelly Bilodeau

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