Meatless Monday Summer Grilling Tips

The start of summer is the perfect time to enjoy delicious, sizzling meals straight off the grill. Meatless grilling is an easy way to enjoy healthy, seasonal flavors without ruining your swimsuit diet. Plus, the occasional vegetarian dish can help you incorporate more vitamin-packed vegetables into your diet and reduce your risk of certain chronic diseases often associated with excess consumption of meat.

Click here for the Meatless Monday Summer Grilling Tips

"Americans love grilling and eating a lot of meat, but consuming red and processed meat, like our beloved hamburgers and hot dogs, has been linked to a host of illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, and various forms of cancer," says Allison Cappelaere, registered dietitian and project director for The Johns Hopkins Meatless Monday Project. "What's more, cooking and grilling meat at high temperatures — especially when charred — releases cancer-causing compounds and increases health risks."

It's easy to remember to cut back with Meatless Monday, a public health campaign that encourages individuals to start the week with healthy meals. Founded in 2003 and backed by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the campaign has become an international movement with support from celebrities, chefs, schools, and communities.

So fire up the grill and take a break from meat with these 10 easy summer grilling tips, and then check out the recipes below to get started.
 

Click here for the Quinoa Zucchini Burgers recipe.

Click here for the Grilled Nectarines with Feta recipe.

Click here for the Smoky Chickpea Burgers recipe.

This story was originally published on May 24, 2012.