10 Healthy Memorial Day Recipes

Summer is so close, I can almost feel it. Almost. The part where I’m still in my classroom every day and it gets down to 45 degrees at night is a nice reminder that we’re solidly in Spring, but still. Summer…I feel you!

Since Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of Summer- or more specifically- the time of year when we decide food is best eaten outside, around a fire, at a park, lake or beach, I really love this time of year. Hand me a picnic basket, grill, or beach blanket, and I’m a happy camper.

So, I thought I’d share a few of my summertime faves that are perfect for whatever you’re doing for Memorial Day, and a great start to this wonderful season of eating food outside with friends.

Strawberry Avocado Salsa. Sounds strange, tastes wonderful. The sweet strawberries with creamy avocado and salty corn chips…excuse me while I run to the store to buy strawberries. I might need to make a quadruple batch of this for Monday.
Peach, Ricotta, & Honey Crostini. Hello, lover. Grilled bread + creamy seasoned ricotta + juicy peaches + fresh basil+ sticky honey= summer meal/snack/appetizer perfection.
Heirloom Tomato & Goat Cheese Pie. I love snacking on this as an appetizer, but a big slice also makes a great meal with a side salad. It’s great at room temperature, so take it to a picnic, barbecue, or beach paaaaarty!
Roasted Green Bean & Potato Salad is still one of the most popular recipes on my site, which means you guys are loving this simple summery side dish as much as I am! Bonus: the entire recipe is made on a sheet pan, so you only have one dish to clean after you make this!
Summer Kale Salad with Spicy Granola. To me, summer is all about the salads. On a hot day, I can’t stand the thought of eating a warm meal…salads to the rescue! This kale salad has roasted beets, fresh cherries, goat cheese, and a super crunchy, slightly spicy granola on top instead of croutons! This would definitely be a show-stopper at a backyard barbecue.
Barley Salad with Grilled Eggplant, Feta & Mint. Turn on your grill and grab an eggplant, because this grain-based salad tastes like summer in every bite.
How to Make Grilled Pizza If your grill is already on, you might as well make some pizza! This isn’t really a recipe, just a method/idea. I love the idea of a build-your-own pizza party, where you grill up the dough in advance and everyone builds their pizzas. When they’ve loaded up their pizzas with toppings, just toss each one back on the grill for a few minutes and then everyone’s eating pizza in the back yard!
Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler with Oat Flour Biscuits. Let’s not forget about dessert. This one does require the use of your oven, but if everyone’s outside anyway, heating up the house won’t be a big deal. Plus, I’ve never met a person who turns down a bowl of cobbler with a dollop of whipped cream or ice cream. Nor do I ever want to.
Coconut Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Speaking of ice cream, it doesn’t get much better than a scoop creamy vanilla on a hot day. Or, maybe you’re more into Chocolate, Banana, or Strawberry?
Chocolate Chip Cookies are obviously the best way to end any summer night, but…have you ever used a cookie instead of a graham cracker to make s’mores? I like to add an extra pinch of salt to the cookie dough and less or no chocolate chips. Sandwiched with a toasty marshmallow and a square of chocolate (and maybe a smear of peanut butter, while I’m at it…) is my idea of a picture perfect summer night.