The Aussie barbecue is a meat-lovers dream. Juicy steaks, snags, skewers and rissoles are all bound to feature, and while it’s perfectly fine to eat meat, the truth is we go too heavy on the portion size. Stick to a palm-sized serve: eg. a small steak or two small sausages to avoid unnecessary fat and kilojoules.

Also pay attention to the quality of your meat. Swap up fatty sausages for lean choices: lean steak (no marbled fat) in place of T-bone; chicken breast instead of wings; and make hamburger patties from lean mince. You could throw some ‘shrimp’ (or fish) on the barbie to cut back on the red meat, as eating more than 455 grams cooked (700g raw) has been linked to colorectal cancer.

Meats tend to dominate the barbecue scene, so as your onion rings sizzle away, throw on some sliced zucchini, capsicum and sweet corn for added veggie goodness.

A colourful salad is an easy way to freshen things up, and if you’re keen, have a go at making your own potato salad, sans the heavy mayo dressing. Simply cook and drain potatoes before drizzling over a light dressing made with olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, garlic and parsley.

No Aussie barbecue, particularly on Australia Day, would be complete without the classic pav! I suggest keeping to a small serve and ensuring your masterpiece is topped with plenty of delicious seasonal fruits. And, if you’re after a lighter option, try grilling fresh peaches and serving with natural yoghurt, a drizzle of honey and chopped pistachios. Yummy!

These guys always seem to turn up to the party. Try to hold off eating too many pre-barbecue nibblies and instead wait for lunch.

If you’re feeling peckish later on, opt for a healthy snack such as hummus, veggie sticks, fruit and wholegrain crackers. A cheese platter is an almost certain, so my advice is to opt for a strong-flavoured vintage cheese, of which you tend to eat less.

Softies, juice and alcoholic bevvies are energy-dense and can quickly add up the liquid calories. If you’re after bubbles, go for mineral water with a squeeze of lemon and when drinking alcohol be sure to alternate drinks with a glass of water. 

Go in with a game plan by setting a limit as to how much you’ll drink, and remember to stick to it.