"Barbecue" parties are hugely popular in the summer because the weather is nice and socially, it's fun to participate in the preparation of such a meal. We have a drink with friends, we laugh and the playful side of this type of meal inevitably takes over. Nevertheless, consuming too many barbecue meals is bad for your health, mainly for the type of cooking that this generates. Indeed, by cooking a meat on the barbecue, we activate aMaillard reaction quite harmful for our health.

The Maillard reaction is a chemical reaction that can be observed when a food is cooked; it corresponds to the action of sugars on proteins, and contributes in particular to the taste of roasted meats. It is during this reaction that acrylamides - considered likely carcinogens - are formed. (Wikipedia)

In addition, participating in a barbecue meal, no matter how fun, pushes us to consume too much animal protein. Indeed, we are quickly led to eat too much meat. Is this really justified or is it the group effect?

Is meat consumption a need or a want?

Nevertheless, the idea is not to become unsocial by refusing all invitations to barbecues, but rather to propose healthy alternatives to accompany this meal. In fact, why not present side dishes that could be more healthy than a simple salad or the typical pasta salad?

The chickpea salad

After soaking the chickpeas overnight, cook them for 30 to 45 minutes in salted water.

Drain and let cool.

Cut a cucumber into small pieces.

Cut two tomatoes into small cubes.

In a dish, mix the chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, pieces of feta cheese and green olives.

Garnish the dish with lemon juice, first cold pressed organic olive oil, sea salt or Gomasio, a few seeds such as sunflower seeds soaked overnight, chopped parsley and a little pepper.

If you think that chickpeas will have a bloating effect on your intestines, remove the skin from each chickpea after cooking. By rubbing them energetically in a dry cloth or between your hands, the chickpeas will strip off their skin.

The pasta salad

The pasta salad, we know the barbecues, right? These dishes are often filled with mayonnaise (or cocktail) sauce to prevent the pasta from sticking together. And finally, it's not really good.

The alternative is to use good products.

Indeed, the first modification is the use of wholemeal pasta which is more interesting from a nutritional point of view. No more empty calories with refined pasta...

Then, instead of a mayonnaise sauce, you can add a raw vegetable oil of first cold pressure. We choose a good oil like olive oil, rapeseed oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil or why not a mixture of several oils.

To that, you'll be left with enjoying healthier ingredients:

- Organic tomato pieces

- Arugula

- Young spinach shoots

- Small pieces of peeled and seeded peppers

- Pieces of raw zucchini

- Pieces of raw button mushrooms (these are the only mushrooms you can eat without cooking)

- Barely steamed broccoli florets

- For the amateurs, pieces of Feta cheese or thin slices of Parmesan cheese.

- For the little extra: cashew nuts, almonds, pine nuts soaked overnight.

Finally, cooking healthy is replacing bad foods that are too industrial with foods that are more in line with our health. In the end, it is not longer to set up but simply different.

Enjoy your meal!