5 Tips on How to Grill For Kids... Without the Yucky Black Marks

 

I wouldn't consider my boys picky eaters, however, when I serve up grilled meat or vegetables striped with black lines, they won't touch it... even if I scrape it off.
Some of us avid grillers take pride in those nice grill marks. They scream "I have mastered the art of cooking over a (semi) open flame and I do it well"... but to our children, they signify dirty, burnt food. Someday they will learn to appreciate those well placed marks of a master grill-woman, but until then, here are some tips to skip the ‘yucky black stuff' on your food.

1. Clean your grill thoroughly before cooking. A lot of those black marks are from charred food left from your previous grilling experience, however, it won't leave your food completely mark free. If you have very sensitive grill-mark spotters, this may not be enough to do the trick.
2. Cook your child's food further from the flame like on the outer edges of the grill. His or her food will take a bit longer to cook thoroughly, but the farther away from the flame the less likely you'll get grill marks and little burnt bits.
3. If you are making chicken, you can grill it with the skin on and then remove the marked skin before you serve.
4. Cook it without sauces or herbs. If you cook it plain then there's less stuff to turn black. You can always add spices or sauce just before you serve the meat.
5. Cook the food wrapped in foil. This will protect it from the harsh effects of the grill fire. Be sure to cook over low heat.

Hopefully these tips will help alleviate any summer dinner-time issues and save you from having to cook something different for your little grill-mark-phobes in your family.