Stay Healthy During Summer Barbecues and Parties without compromising your diet! You can enjoy great food with family and friends and not go home with regrets or feeling ill.
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Flourless Chocolate Chip Skillet Brownies compliment any meal. Great for grain free diets and those needing a low sugar dessert.
When we get together with family or friends to celebrate July 4th, a birthday party or special occasion we like to serve delicious food. We’ll look at 7 tips for not compromising your health but enjoying your celebration.
Food and Holiday Traditions
Food is an important part of any holiday, regardless of your home country. People like to host holiday celebrations and serve certain foods that reminds us of our culture. Food makes us feel comfortable and contributes to our memories as we age.
In America we have a holiday coming up on July 4th; Independence Day! It’s a federal holiday that reminds us of our countries independence and the signing of the Declaration of Independence in the year 1776. It’s a holiday we celebrate proudly with lots of food and noise!
Across our country, Americans celebrate with grilling hot dogs and hamburgers, everything red, white, and blue, lemonade, strawberry shortcake AND fireworks!
Fun Fact: It is estimated that 150 million hot dogs will be eaten on July 4th!
7 Tips to Stay Healthy During Summer Barbecues
- Inquire about the menu. Knowing what is on the menu can be helpful in so many ways!
- Contribute food. Find food that fits your diet and will be well received by others. (Think: strawberries, blueberries, vegetables to grill, drinks, and healthy dips.)
- Remember the 80/20 rule. Decide beforehand if you are going to “cheat” that day and if so, on which food item. Chose an item that won’t cause an allergic reaction (perhaps, potato chips?).
- Bring the beverage! Homemade lemonades, homemade iced tea, and even fruit/veggie infused water is a hit with almost everyone at a party.
- Pack your medicine, supplements, etc. If you take a digestive aid, bring it! Allergic to nuts or peanuts, bring your epi-pen! Its always recommended to bring an oral anti-histamine for hidden allergens.
- Consider bringing “look-alike” food. My family likes an organic hot dog that is sold at our local organic meat market, so we bring enough hot dogs for our family. I like to bring chips that are grain-free (see below for suggestions) or chips that have been made with a sustainable oil like coconut oil.
- Have fun and try a new recipe! Their are many healthy side dishes and desserts that are beautiful and tasty. Keep reading for links to grain free delicious desserts that fit the occasion!
Communicate
Sometimes it comes down to communicating about our diets or food allergies. The last thing any of us want is to insult the host or make them feel awkward due to my food allergy, food sensitives or diet choices.
At family holiday gatherings, I am perfectly content to eat meat and vegetables. Usually that is safe for me and doesn’t make my stomach upset. I need to communicate that to the host so they don’t feel neglectful or uncomfortable. My daughters like to contribute to holidays with a special pie that is dairy free, which works well for at least five immediate family members!
Recipes for Summer Celebrations
Dairy Free Strawberry Vanilla Chia Pudding topped with granola is a wonderful for small parties and celebrations. It’s filling and nutritious for you!
Delicious Allergen-Friendly Cupcakes!! Grain Free 4th of July Vanilla Cupcakes!! They are grain-free and lightly sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar. Not to mention, they are so fun to prepare!!
Dairy Free Strawberry Shortcake. Grab a quart of fresh strawberries and whip up the shortcake; top it with dairy free whipped topping! Strawberries have numerous health benefits and are naturally sweet.
No Bake Dairy Free Peanut Butter Pie is heavenly! This cold dessert is perfect for warm summer days. It’s easy to prepare several days ahead of time and stores easily in the freezer.
Snacks, BBQ Sauce & Marinate for Any Celebration
- Siete Sea Salt Tortilla Chips (grain free and corn free)
- Lesser Evil Egg White Curls (coconut free and corn free) – Incredible!
- Primal Kitchen Classic BBQ Sauce (unsweetened)
- Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers (grain free)
- Walnut Acres Organic Baked Beans (gluten free & organic)
- Kettle Brand Krinkle Cut Salt & Pepper Chips – Share Size
- Primal Kitchen Marinade (made with avocado oil)
- Lily’s Garlic Hummus (clean ingredients)
Stay Healthy During Summer Barbecues
Enjoy the holidays, your family, friends and the FOOD without any guilt! I hope you find the 7 suggestions helpful as well as the delicious grain free recipes!
It only takes a little bit of effort to make your time delightful.
Remember to inquire about the menu, contribute to the holiday spread, and consider bringing “look alike” food to the party!
Drinks are an easy way to contribute! You can keep it simple and creative!
Pursing Better Health Together,