Want to get your family to eat more fruits and vegetables? Try grilling them!

The heat from the grill caramelizes the natural sugars in fruits and vegetables, giving them a tasty and sweeter flavor.

I had the opportunity to visit with a representative from Weber grills who is coming to my hometown — Lincoln, Nebraska — to show their new Husker-themed grills at the Nebraska-Oregon football game. Their Chef and Grill Specialist Tyler Selhorst will be on hand to talk about grilling and tailgating tips.

Grilled meat is the first food that usually comes to mind for tailgating and grilling. To round out the meal with more foods from the grill, I asked Weber for some tips for grilling fruits and vegetables.

Grilling Fruit

Here are some general tips for grilling fruits from Weber.

1. First preheat your grill for 10-15 minutes and then brush the grates clean.
2. Prep whatever fruit you choose (rinse and peel/slice if necessary).
3. Set the grill temperature between 350-450 F. (Alice’s note: This is a medium heat)
4. Place fruit on the grill or in grill basket. Large slices can go directly on the grill, but small fruits like blueberries or raspberries will need to be placed in your grill basket.
5. Grill fruit for about 6-8 minutes. The larger fruits may need an extra few minutes in order to really caramelize the fruit. (Alice’s note: Find sizes and approximate times for grilling various fruits here)
6. Remove and serve!

Grilling Vegetables

As easy way to grill vegetables is in a stainless steel vegetable basket. The basket prevents smaller vegetables from falling through the grill grate.

Weber gives these basic directions for grilling vegetables in a vegetable basket.

Location of Weber Tailgate at September 17 Husker Game

If you’d like to get some grilling and tailgating tips from Weber’s Chef and to see the Husker-themed grill, stop by their Tailgate, September 17 before the Nebraska-Oregon football game. They’ll be tailgating on Stadium Drive, on the west side of Memorial Stadium from 11:30 a.m. on Saturday until kickoff (2:30 p.m.)