Before firing up the grill, here are some healthy food options | Food-and-cooking

If you love to grill, reduce your exposure by choosing leaner alternatives. Grilled chicken isn’t necessarily novel, but it is a healthier option than red meat. It has less fat than red meat, which means that even though it still produces carcinogenic compounds when exposed to high heat, there are fewer of them.

Fish is another option to try. “It’s a healthier protein with less saturated fat,” says Fung. If you substitute fish for red meat, it can provide a boost to your diet and also has lower levels of troubling compounds.

Food safety should be a priority in the summer months. When you are preparing food, aim both to avoid getting bacteria on your food and to prevent environmental conditions that will allow pathogens to grow, says Teresa Fung, adjunct professor in the nutrition department at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

To prevent food-borne illnesses, take these steps when preparing food:

— Carefully wash food preparation surfaces and your hands.

— Avoid reusing cutting boards for different foods, such as vegetables and raw meat, unless you wash them in between.

— Grill only what you need, as you need it. Keep other uncooked items refrigerated or in a cooler with ice.