Birmingham Restaurant Week presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is coming to an end, but making healthy swaps at breakfast, lunch and dinner doesn’t have to.  With more than 83 years of experience in making your health a priority, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama cares about giving Alabamians the right tools to make healthy decisions.   Here are even more tips from the Health Management team that will help you keep making healthy choices long after the BRW specials end.  1. Enjoy a crunch? Try swapping chips out for crunchy vegetables like carrots to make a healthy snack.   2. Missing the salty taste of chips? Try your hand at a fresh, home-made kale chip recipe.  3. Fall is coming. Enjoy the great weather with a backyard cookout. Heat up that grill and toss on lean protein, such as chicken. Make a kabob with your favorite veggies and fruits (onions, peppers, squash, pineapple).  4. Stay hydrated! Try adding sliced cucumber to a pitcher of water, and let it soak overnight. Give your water a subtle, refreshing taste!  5. Need a crunch in your yogurt? Try swapping out the granola for a fiber-rich cereal.  6. Try swapping out the bagel for whole-grain toast or English muffin and add […]

Check out Carlile’s Barbecue on ABC 33/40’s Talk of Alabama!

Birmingham Restaurant Week presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama is filled with so many delicious choices from so many of the city’s premier eateries. With all that food to fit into just 10 days, it can be easy to put nutritional goals aside to try everything. So, how can you stay true to your goals while also sampling the best that Birmingham has to offer?   Throughout Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama’s 83 years of service in the state, the company has aimed to not only provide health insurance but to also improve Alabamians’ overall health. Those goals hold true during the 10th year of Birmingham Restaurant Week.  Here are a few tips from members of the BCBSAL Health Management team to help you stay focused: 1. Parking garage woes? Skip the garage fee and find a spot on the street for some extra steps to your restaurant of choice.  2. Small plates, more variety. Split a couple choice small plates over an entrée with your dinner guests. You will get more variety, with smaller portions.  3. Salads can be a crunchy, veggie filled entrée. Ask for dressing on the side to be in control of your calories.  4. Try an after-dinner decaf latte or […]