Before the cooler weather has you turning off the grill and thinking about warm soups and filling comfort food, you still can enjoy some seasonal produce, healthy food, and refreshing drinks for your Labor Day celebrations.
For many people, the end of summer isn’t complete without one last celebration over the Labor Day weekend. With the gift of a long weekend, many people spend time with friends and family, sharing a meal, and enjoying the last unofficial days of summer.
Before the cooler weather has you turning off the grill and thinking about warm soups and filling comfort foods, you still can enjoy some seasonal produce, healthy food, and refreshing drinks for your Labor Day celebrations. Find some recipes below!
The Importance of Healthy Eating
Eating healthy, even over holiday weekends and during celebrations, is important for your overall health and wellness. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), eating well provides several health benefits, including lowering your risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes, boosting your immune system, and maintaining a healthy weight. Keep these benefits as you check out the recipes below and consider swapping your hot dogs and brownies for something healthier this year.
For the Snacks
- Watermelon gazpacho – Try this refreshing, cold soup filled with tons of summer produce like watermelon, tomatoes, cucumbers, and herbs.
- Gazpacho dip with garlic pita chips – Make your own pita chips with whole wheat pita bread and use up some summer veggies like cucumber, tomatoes, and peppers for this fresh dip recipe.
- Zucchini bites – Enjoy fresh summer zucchini slices topped with tomato sauce and cheese in this easy appetizer recipe.
- Pico de Gallo – This dip is filled with fresh tomatoes, herbs, and onions for a fresh end-of-summer appetizer to serve with chips or whole-wheat crackers.
For the Drinks
- Fruit slush – Use up some of that fresh summer melon in this icy cold, refreshing fruit slush. This could be served as a dessert as well.
- Blueberry kombucha spritzer – For a fun, frozen drink, try this recipe with only a few simple ingredients like blueberries, kombucha, and a little sweetener of your choice.
- Infused water recipes – The American Heart Association has a video featuring 12 infused water recipes. Keep it simple and healthy this Labor Day weekend with recipes like cucumber lime water, watermelon mint water, or blueberry orange water.
For the Grill
- Rosemary peach chicken kabobs – Chicken is a great, lean meat for grilling. This recipe uses peaches and peppers along with chicken and includes an orange glaze for some added sweetness.
- Seared beef sirloin and peaches – Eat some delicious greens like kale or arugula, along with some summer peaches, to build a healthy base around your grilled sirloin steak.
- Grilled veggie skewers – You can use various fresh summer produce with grilled veggie skewers that include mushrooms, peppers, squash and more. Feel free to mix it up based on what veggies your family and friends like best.
- Grilled turkey burgers – Enjoy the taste of a typical burger, but with much less fat. Try these lean turkey burgers instead!
For the Dessert
- Strawberry s’mores – Instead of a typical marshmallow s’more, try this healthier version with yogurt and strawberries. No campfire necessary!
- Stovetop peach blueberry crisp – For a quick, low-calorie dessert filled with summer peaches and blueberries, sample this recipe for a stovetop crisp.
- Grilled peaches – Grilled peaches are a fast and easy dessert that relies on the natural sweetness of peaches. You can serve them alone, with yogurt, or with a small scoop of your favorite ice cream.
- Frozen fruit pops – Get the kids involved and make this healthy version of popsicles, using fruit and yogurt. This recipe calls for canned pineapple, which can have a lot of added sugar, but you can opt for whatever your favorite fresh or frozen fruits are.
End your summer the healthy way and try some of these recipes over your Labor Day weekend!