Pitmaster Charles Dabbs and Laila Ali Share Safer, Healthier Grilling Tips

Barbecue pitmaster Charles Dabbs stresses basic safety and technique for better grilling. He recommends preheating the grill for about 15 minutes before cooking, keeping the grates clean and lightly oiled after each use, and using a two‑zone heat setup—high heat on one side and lower heat on the other—to avoid burnt outsides and raw interiors. Dabbs also advises turning down the heat rather than blasting burners, which helps achieve even cooking and prevents flare‑ups.

Health‑focused writer Laila Ali offers ingredient swaps to make cookouts lighter without losing flavor. She suggests replacing beef burgers with lean turkey or bison, using whole‑grain buns or lettuce wraps, choosing grilled chicken sausage over hot dogs, and swapping processed sides for baked veggie chips, quinoa salad, grilled corn with lime, and homemade salsa. She also recommends swapping sugary drinks for sparkling water or unsweetened iced tea and opting for fruit pops or yogurt bark instead of ice cream.