Grilling Season Without Meat

By Ian Lee, HealthCastle

Grilling season is here, and that means many households are loading up on steaks, burgers and hot dogs. But for those who don’t eat meat, or don’t want to eat meat every time they grill, outdoor cookouts can be a disappointing repeat loop of soggy veggie dogs or dried-out veggie burgers.

There’s no reason meat has to get all the glory when it comes to hitting the grill, according to dietitian Gloria Tsang, founder of nutrition network HealthCastle.com and author of Go UnDiet: 50 Small Actions for Lasting Weight Loss. 

"There are plenty of non-meat grilling options that can extend the joy of grilling to non-meat eaters," Tsang said in a press release. "For those who tend to grill every night all summer long, they also provide a nice respite from grill-induced meat overload."

Here are some non-meat grilling options:

• Veggie skewers: Brush mushrooms or eggplant with olive oil, garlic and rosemary, and alternate with peppers, onions and even some pineapple.
• Portobello mushroom: Try brushing it with garlic and olive oil or marinating it in balsamic vinegar or any marinade you'd use for steak.
• Tofu: Extra-firm tofu dipped in egg, coated with a thin layer of breadcrumbs and grilled is anything but bland. Crispy on the outside and soft in the center. 
• Quesadillas: Fill tortillas with onions, peppers, mushrooms and cheese, fold in half and grill a couple of minutes on each side until the cheese is melted and the tortillas are crunchy with grill marks.
• Fish and salsa: Grilled white fish like mahi mahi or cod becomes sublime when topped with a fresh fruit salsa with a pineapple or mango base. 

Looking for more tips in the kitchen? Check out .