You'd never think to sprinkle sugar on your chicken breast, but nutritionist LeeAnn Weintraub says that's exactly what we're doing when we baste our birds in BBQ sauce. A store-bought bottle can contain an entire cup of sugar, The Everything Glycemic Index Cookbook author explains in the above #OWNSHOW video.
To cut down on calories, Weintraub suggests a simple swap that's still full of flavor. Before your next barbecue, try seasoning your chicken in this simple, healthy marinade:
Olive oil
Fresh lemon juice
Herbs
Black pepper
If you don't have all of these ingredients on hand, Weintraub says it's easy to make substitutions. Out of lemons? Use bottled lemon juice or vinegar instead.
Rosemary, tarragon, parsley, basil and thyme are all great herbs for marinating meats, she says. If you're short of fresh herbs, a dry rub mix of spices is easy to use in a pinch.
If you're still missing that sweet tang of BBQ sauce, Weintraub suggests swapping out the lemons for a sweeter fruit. "Other fruits that can really help add sweetness without the added sugar of BBQ sauce would be pineapple juice or orange juice, to really add that sweet kick without the added sugar," she says.
More secretly sugar-laden foods to avoid.
Related
Before You Go
