Team Beachbody ¡preestreno!Español Guest

Historically, BBQ was largely dependent on pork, with marinades and seasoning that varied from region to region. Today, beef, chicken, lamb, and a plethora of tasty side dishes have made the list—all of which can potentially be as dangerous to our waistlines as pork itself. So when looking to enjoy a little piece of Southern American history, how do we know what our best choices are? Let's look at BBQ in this edition of Beachbody Restaurant Rescue.

Appetizer

Although appetizers obviously exist in a BBQ joint, they are often overlooked for the more substantial main dish. And as most main meals include a couple of sides and a considerable amount of food, it makes perfect sense to skip the starter. Furthermore, every appetizer offered seems to be loaded with fried fattiness, giving you more reason to avoid unhealthy starters. Should you decide that your stomach is empty enough to handle it all, the following are some popular options offered in BBQ restaurants, with some approximate nutritional breakdowns.

Nutritional information (per serving):

Salads

Every meal is better when it begins with some greens, especially if it's not iceberg lettuce doused in blue cheese dressing. Given 2 tablespoons of blue cheese dressing contain 20 grams of fat, imagine what that nutrient-free ball of water masquerading as a vegetable, swimming in dressing, holds. Lean toward a field greens salad with light dressing, or even the carrot and raisin salad, which your eyes may thank you for. Above all, avoid mayonnaise-based coleslaw, as a tiny 3-oz. serving can add a couple hundred calories and 13 grams of fat.

Nutritional information (per serving):

Sides

Here is where BBQ can be scary. Our Southern ancestors seem to have taken the healthiest options out there, and removed all nutritional value, except saturated fat. Try to avoid anything fried, creamed, mayonnaise based, or flavored with pork. Your best possible options are a plain baked potato, corn on the cob without butter, and collard greens. If you must venture into Texas toast and potato salad, try to limit your portion size and share your choices with your companions.

Nutritional information (per serving):

Main Course

Mmm, meat. Consumption of vast quantities of flesh is what the country is famous for. And when is meat better than when it's covered in a sugary sauce and slowly cooked over an open flame? Chicken is generally your best choice at a BBQ establishment, and can save you several hundred calories over its red-meat counterparts (depending on your portion size and fixings, of course). And remember that with any meat choice, your body can only break down about 30 grams of protein at once, so eating 16 baby back ribs isn't the wisest choice. Try to keep your portions within reason, avoid anything fried, and resist adding extra sauce, a.k.a. sugar, if possible. The following nutritional breakdowns don't include extra barbecue sauce, since the nutritional content for barbecue sauce varies per location. You can add somewhere between 40 to 70 calories for every 2 tablespoons of sauce used.

Nutritional information (per serving):

Dessert

These desserts are in no way specific to BBQ restaurants, but you'll tend to find them there. If you can, leave the restaurant and go get some fat-free frozen yogurt. If you have to have that brownie, share it with your companion. Often, a couple of bites of something sweet are enough to satisfy a craving.

Nutritional information (per serving):

The U.S. is still one of the most obese countries in the world, with our Southern states making up a big part of that heft. This can't be attributed to a certain type of food—certainly, BBQ was around long before this epidemic began—but we do live in a "supersize" nation where abundance is commonplace. Barbecue restaurants provide their clientele with amazingly generous portions. Try to remember that your body needs food for fuel, and that it can only break down so many calories in a single sitting. Be kind to it and remember to make liberal use of another great American contribution to restaurant culture—the doggie bag.

Related Articles
"Beachbody^® Restaurant Rescue: Mexican Edition"
"Beachbody^® Restaurant Rescue: Japanese Edition"
"Beachbody^® Restaurant Rescue: Thai Edition"

Got something to say? Chat with the writers and other readers on Monday, March 15th, at 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM PT, in the Team Beachbody Chat Room!

If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, just email us at mailbag@TeamBeachbody.com.

Here's a quick and effective move from Slim in 6^® creator Debbie Siebers that helps to strengthen your entire midsection. No equipment is necessary, and you can do it practically anywhere. Click below to watch the video.

If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, just email us at mailbag@TeamBeachbody.com.

The nutrition facts

Half a cup of quinoa is 111 calories, 2 grams of fat, 19 grams of carbs, 4 grams of protein, and 3 grams of fiber. That 4 grams of protein is a complete protein, meaning it provides all 9 essential amino acids, which is rare outside the animal product world.

The biggest vitamin hit you'll get is folate with 10 percent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA)*. You'll get lesser amounts of vitamin E, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6. Minerals are much more substantial with 29 percent of the RDA for manganese; 15 percent for magnesium; 14 percent for phosphorus; and smaller amounts of calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, copper, and selenium.

How do you eat this stuff?

Quinoa works in place of rice or couscous. Bring one part quinoa with two parts water to boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Fluff and eat heartily!

Source: www.nutritiondata.com

Michi's Ladder is Beachbody's guide to nutritious eating. If you only ate from Tiers 1 and 2, you would have a near-perfect diet!

Related Articles
"Climbing Michi's Ladder: Bok Choy"
"Climbing Michi's Ladder: Chard"
"Climbing Michi's Ladder: Collard Greens"

Got something to say? Chat with the writers and other readers on Monday, March 15th, at 8:00 PM ET, 5:00 PM PT, in the Team Beachbody Chat Room!

If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, just email us at mailbag@TeamBeachbody.com.

True or False?

1. Argentina – Asado. Argentinean "asadors" make a fire directly on the ground or in a fire pit and roast beef and a variety of other meats over it, using sticks or metal grates suspended over the fire. No marinade is used, just a little salt.
2. South Africa – Braai. Over the open flame of a wood fire, sausage, skewered mutton, pork chops, chicken, steak, fish, and rock lobster coated in a variety of marinades and spices are grilled until tender. Braai actually has its own holiday, celebrated by South Africans at home and throughout the world.
3. Jamaica – Jerk. Meats, usually pork or chicken, are either marinated or dry-rubbed with hot, spicy seasoning, then cooked over pit fires, or charcoal fires in half-oil-barrels.
4. Cuba – Taíno. Meat is slowly cooked over a grate or mesh made from intersecting wood sticks. Another traditional taíno dish is lechon—a whole pig slow-grilled over a turning spit.
5. India – Tandoor. A charcoal or wood fire is built within the clay tandoor oven itself, which roasts the meat both directly (over coals) and indirectly (from radiant heat captured within the cylindrical clay enclosure). Chicken is frequently cooked this way, often marinated in sauce made of yogurt and spices.

If you'd like to ask a question or comment on this newsletter article, just email us at mailbag@TeamBeachbody.com.

*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.