30 June 2025

Are you getting ready for a 4th of July BBQ? You may have heard that grilling meats at high heat creates carcinogens. Without being alarmist, here's a great article on things you can do to reduce your risks.

Do Grilled Foods Cause Cancer?

You may not be surprised to learn that one of the best things you can do is to keep it plant-centric! I'll definitely be trying out some new grilled tofu recipes this summer (still no air conditioning!). Making the “sides” the main attraction is also a good strategy (broken record: make half your plate vegetables); a rainbow of veggies provides the antioxidants and phytonutrients that protect your health.

Some of my favorite veggies to grill include corn (of course), zucchini, eggplant, broccoli and cauliflower, onions, peppers and (yes!) romaine lettuce. You can grill fruit, too - pineapple and peaches are yum.

I never thought about grilling potatoes until I learned this delicious hack from my friend, Jon (I asked Chat GPT to help me make it into a formal recipe for you, but you really don't need to worry too much about the details).

Grilled Potato PacketsThese simple foil packets are a delicious, fuss-free side dish perfect for summer grilling.

🥔 Ingredients (serves 4)

4 medium potatoes (Yukon Gold or red potatoes work well), scrubbed and cut into 1/2-inch cubes

2 large onions, sliced thickly

2 Tablespoons olive oil

Salt, to taste

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

✏ Instructions

Preheat grill to medium-high heat (about 375–400°F).

Prepare the packets:

Tear 4 sheets of heavy-duty aluminum foil (about 12–14 inches each).

Divide the potatoes and onions evenly among the sheets.

Drizzle about ½ Tablespoon olive oil over each pile.

Sprinkle generously with salt and black pepper.

Toss gently to coat.

Seal the packets:

Fold the foil over the potatoes and onions to make a packet.

Fold the edges over several times to seal tightly, leaving a little space inside for steam.

Grill:

Place the packets on the grill.

Cook for about 20–25 minutes, turning occasionally, until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork.

Serve:

Carefully open the packets (watch for hot steam) and enjoy!