You Go Grill!

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Youre practically Top Chef materialone mean, grilling machine. But mixed messages about meats and oils cooked at high heat (some studies claim links to cancer) havepoof!blown your summertime ritual up in smoke.

Dont worryinstead, experiment with these healthier choices from NY-based health counselor Julie Lerner:

Things to throw on the charcoal: Try corn on the cob (local is best), fish (opt for wild salmon, tilapia, trout and soletheyre light on mercury), or wrap skinny vegetables like zucchini, eggplant, carrots, and asparagus in a shell of armor, i.e. aluminum foil.

Know what to drizzle: Put olive oil on veggies once theyre smoked, but never cook with it. At very high temperatures, olive oil goes from a good fat to a bad one. For cooking on the grill, use coconut or red palm oil (they resist heat-induced damage while still promoting heart health and normal cholesterol levels).

Hold the gibberish: Ditch preservative-laden store marinadestheyre full of xanthan gum and soy lecithin. Follow this simple rule: if you cant pronounce something on a label, you probably dont want to eat it. Instead, try this lip-smacking recipe: mix together miso pate, orange juice, 100% maple syrup and shoyu sauce (Japanese soy sauce) for an on-the-fly marinade.

Now that youve fixed a healthy grill, make sure your drinks compliment your heart-smart eats. Try these recipes for healthy cocktails worthy of your grill:

Ginger Lemon-mint-ade (or... make it a mojito)

1 cup fresh squeezed lemons
1 cup water
1/2 cup crushed ice
2 teaspoons agave nectar
12-14 chopped mint leaves
1/4 teaspoon ginger

Optional: Add rum, skip the ginger ... and you've got a mojito!

Directions:

Blend ingredients
Sweeten (with agave nectar) to your own taste
Serve with a slice of lemon
Enjoy!

Makes 4 servings.

Agave Margaritas

3 ounces 100% agave tequilla
1.5 ounces triple sec
1.5 ounces fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar
Coarse salt to rim glasses (optional)
Lime slices
Splash of orange juice (optional)
Crushed iced

Directions:

In a blender combine tequila, triple sec. lime juice, agave nectar and ice. Whirl until well blended. Or use a hand-shaker instead of a blender (shake for at least 15 seconds).

Makes 4 servings.

Lisa Blau is the co-founder of Vital Juice Daily, a daily email dedicated to healthy living and the latest wellness trends. Every weekday Vital Juice Daily delivers the latest information, trends, tips and tidbits in the areas of nutrition, fitness, healing, beauty, green living and social responsibility. For your daily dose of wellness, visit www.vitaljuicedaily.com and sign up for your free email. Also look out for their local editions in New York and Los Angeles and their wellness news just for Moms.

About ModernMom.com: Modern Mom ( www.modernmom.com) features smart and practical advice on topics such as parenting, finances, career, health, wellness, beauty, entertainment and more. Read more about Home & Food at http://www.modernmom.com/category/FoodDrink