Each weekend around this time of year, Americans fire up their grills, looking to cook the perfect summertime meal. But did you know that by using NuVal™ Scores, it's still possible to make more nutritious choices without dramatically altering your menu?

The NuVal™ Nutritional Scoring System gives nutritional guidance to consumers frustrated with complicated nutrition labels. Under NuVal, all foods and beverages are rated on a scale between 1 to 100. The higher the score, the better the overall nutrition.
 

To score foods, the NuVal™ system uses a proprietary algorithm to examine the presence of more than 30 nutrients, and takes into account how these nutrients affect health outcomes. Using NuVal™ Scores, consumers can now compare the overall nutrition of the foods they buy, enabling them to "trade up" for similar products that are higher in nutrition. For instance:
 

· Not sure what to throw on the grill?  Try choosing shrimp over steak tips.   With a lower energy density (fewer calories per gram), minimal saturated fat and some omega-3 fatty acids in the mix, shrimp have a NuVal Score of 75, as opposed to sirloin steak tips, which receive a score of 34.
 

· Going for a hot dog?  Ball Park Fat-Free Beef Franks have 6 grams fewer saturated fat and fewer calories per gram than the Ball Park "regular" beef franks. The result? The fat-free franks get a NuVal Score of 21, while the "full fat" variety has a score of 8.
 

· Of course, what are hot dogs without buns? Just a simple change such as going with a whole wheat bun can make a noticeable difference in nutrition. While Sunbeam Hot Dog Buns score a 24 on the NuVal scale, Nature's Own 100% Whole What Hot Dog Buns get a 34. The Nature's Own brand benefits from having 3 more grams of fiber and 28 mg less sodium than the Sunbeam brand.
 

For even more grilling "trade ups," visit the NuVal website here!