LAST UPDATED: 4 January 2017
The only thing we Aussies love more than a barbie is finding the excuse to throw one (It's warm! It's a long weekend! It's a day ending in 'y'!). But guess what, it gets even better. What you chuck on the BBQ can have a huge impact on not just your own health and the environment — but animals, too!
So, if you fancy the idea of helping all three while throwing an impressive BBQ... you'll be delighted to know that it's actually super easy. Here's how!

Animal-free alternatives to chops 'n' snags are SO easy to find these days! And with 1 in 4 Australians now either cutting out or cutting back on meat, demand for cruelty-free options is on the rise. Our mates from Fry's Family Foods offer an impressive range of snags and burgers. Sanitarium also offer animal-free burgers, sausages and felafel patties that are great for the grill. If you'd rather whip up your own barbecue food, grab the simple recipes for lentil burgers or Moroccan eggplant and capsicum kebabs.
Don't forget — some of the best barbecue food is also the easiest! Corn on the cob, asparagus, field mushrooms and sliced onions will add some colour to your plate (oh and they taste amazing barbecued, too).

Because, let's face it — barbecues can go all day (and all night for that matter). Keep your guests happy by making sure you've got nibblies to keep them going! We recommend the Outback BBQ 'ribs', 'Prawn' Cocktails, and Fair Dinkum Damper. Oh, and yes — the Warm Sesame Toasted Strips (pictured) DO taste as good as they look! You can download the recipe for these here.

You CAN make friends with salad — well, with a good one anyway. Make your BBQ spread complete with these beauties: roast veggie salad, Egyptian chickpea salad and rocket & artichoke salad.

On the off chance you and your guests have ANY room left after devouring the kilos of food listed above ... we've got you covered. These recipes for peach melba, pavlova, lamingtons and meringues (pictured) are four of the sweetest ways to celebrate a hot Aussie summer!
Oh, and if you have any canine friends joining you for the event, why not bust out the wading pool? Not only will this help them cope if it's a particularly hot day, but there's every chance it will provide additional entertainment for all of your guests too ...

Go forth, be merry, and be very, very full this summer — all while being kind to animals, yourself and the environment.

For more awesome tips on eating kindly, and loads of delicious meat-free meal ideas, order your free copy of our vegetarian starter kit today!
