Kitchen Remedy: Get Grilling

There's nothing quite like the smells of summer--the warm breezes, the fragrant flowers and even the scent of sunblock. But my favorite by far is the smoky smell of barbecue. In my opinion, grilling is one of the best ways to cook. First, you can't beat the time factor: Virtually no planning or prep is required. And more important, it's so easy to create healthful meals because you don't have to use a lot of fat to add flavor to your food. You can even enjoy the classics, like hamburgers and steaks, and still keep your calories in check. Take a look at the tips below to create a healthy, tasty meal on the grill.

Make a better burger. Use lean beef (95 percent). Or, try a buffalo burger with naturally lean ground buffalo meat, a turkey burger or a veggie burger.

Choose a slim steak. Go for lean options, such as a T-bone or different cuts of sirloin and flank steak. Buffalo steaks are also good because they're naturally lean.

Grill your veggies. Throw corn on the cob on the grill instead of boiling it for a more intense roasted flavor. You can grill just about any veggie, including sweet peppers, onions, fennel, summer squash, whole leaves of hearty greens or wedges of cabbage or radicchio.

Enjoy chicken stripped. Chicken's great on the grill, but be sure to remove the skin (it's loaded with saturated fat) and marinate it before cooking to keep it moist.

Be creative. If you're looking to experiment, try marinated tofu. It is excellent on the grill and is a great source of lean plant-based protein. You could also try grilled fish for a simple but elegant meal.