The Aussie snag is being put under the grill this summer
Is there anything more Australian than a barbecue on a hot summer’s day?
If you’re like most Aussies, you’re going to find yourself throwing a snag on the barbie more than once this summer.
But before you fire up your BBQ and reach for the tongs, we’re urging our community (that’s you!) to rethink the snag this BBQ season.
Evidence suggests that processed meats like sausages, salami, ham, and bacon (yep, sorry!) are associated with an increased risk of bowel cancer.
In Queensland, one person is diagnosed with cancer every 20 minutes. That’s more than 27,000 each year.
The good news is that at least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable through healthy living. Simple lifestyle changes including maintaining a healthy weight, being active, eating well, limiting alcohol, quitting smoking and staying SunSmart all help to reduce your risk.
A healthy BBQ is a great alternative to a sausage sizzle.
With a few simple swaps, you can eat your way to better health!
Here are three easy tips to keep in mind.
- Swap processed meats, high in fat and salt, for skinless chicken, lean mince or vegetable patties or home-made kebabs.
- Opt for wholegrain or wholemeal bread, or eat your burger in a lettuce wrap.
- Freshen up your sides, by swapping out full-fat potato and pasta salads for mixed green salads dressed in herbs and a vinaigrette.
Get creative with your next BBQ by adding more fruits and vegetables to meet the Australian Guidelines of 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit a day.
Masterchef finalist, Ben Ungermann says he loves cooking on a barbeque and always keeps health front of mind.
“The open flame really brings another element to the food,
“It is really easy to incorporate vegetables into your summer barbeque and they work so well!
“You can experiment with eggplant, cobs of corn, pineapple, sweet potato, capsicum, and even cucumber – it sounds odd, but the grill really gives a completely different flavour!”
“Grilled sweet potato wedges are always a big winner too,” he says.
A healthy, well-balanced diet helps to protect against many types of cancer.
You can help make the healthy choice, the easy choice by providing healthy food and drinks at your next BBQ.
