Labor Day is just around the corner; it’s time to send the summer out in style! We’ve spent the season scouring for the most innovative grill creations out there to help you end the season with a bang. Our favorites take grilling to a whole new level—and way beyond dinnertime. Breakfast through dessert, cooking outside works for any time of day, with a little creativity of course.
A toxin called an advanced glycation end product (AGE) can form during high-heat cooking, like traditional grilling and frying, when certain proteins react with carbohydrates. AGEs can also occur naturally in the body because of the aging process and are found in some foods we eat. A study in the April 2007 The Journal of Gerontology: Medical Sciences1 associates the increased presence of AGEs in the body with detrimental effects on the kidneys. Knowing that diabetes can place added strain on the kidneys, the effects of AGEs are of special concern and your doctor may advise you to limit your intake of grilled food. To help you with this, we’ve selected three dishes cooked at lower heat for a lower AGE intake that will have you all fired up.
Flamin’ French Toast
Say “good morning” grill style with our fresh take on French toast. This unexpected start to the day is the perfect way to kick off the weekend with a taste of adventure. Try whipping up a mix of egg substitute, cinnamon, milk and a sucralose sweetener (which stands up to cooking temps better than other low-calorie sweeteners). Dip in some low-carb, whole wheat bread and place it on the grill at a low heat. Generally speaking, whole wheat or multigrain bread has more complex carbs than white bread does, resulting in a slower rise in blood sugar levels. Whole wheat and multigrain toast also has a more substantial flavor, and will help you feel full longer than white bread because of its higher fiber content. Top it off with some sugar-free syrup and a small handful of blueberries for added antioxidants.
Perfect Pizza
Add pizzazz with grilled flatbread pizzas. Thin crusts like flatbread are generally lower in carbs than deep-dish pizzas so they help maintain blood glucose levels. If you don’t feel like making the dough yourself, pick up some pita bread in the deli section of your grocery store. Lightly brush a piece with olive oil and smear with pizza sauce. Add unexpected toppings like feta cheese, avocado, cherry tomatoes, asparagus, orange peppers or kernels of corn. Go easy on the cheese and make sure to leave some room so it doesn’t melt onto the grill. Meat toppings should be fully cooked before adding to the pizzas. Place on the grill at low heat and cover. Remove once the cheese has melted.
Determined for Dessert
There’s no better way to end a meal than with a delectable dessert, and when cooked on the grill, it’s a festive end to the season. Fruit kabobs are easy and delicious. Slice fruits such as pineapples, pears, peaches or apples, and cook until caramelized. Heating up the fruit will give it a richer flavor but may diminish some of the nutritional benefits. Savor grilled fruit as an occasional treat. It is a more blood sugar-friendly alternative to most other desert options, but it is not the best choice when trying to fulfill your daily fruit intake needs.
Cooking outdoors will help you take full advantage of the last days of summer. Check out our Recipes section for more recipes. Have an original grilled favorite you’d like us to know about? Email us at editor@everydayeating.com.
1Vribarri, J. et al. Circulating glycotoxins and dietary advanced glycation end products: Two links to inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and aging. The Journal of Gerontology: Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 2007; 62:427–438.