Healthy Foods To Share With Friends: 6 Ideas for Your Next BBQ

Autumn is approaching, and we all feel like we have just a few weeks of summer left to enjoy. Instead of focusing on this nostalgia, let’s start planning what you can do to celebrate the best season for enjoying fresh fruits and vegetables. And, what is the best way to make the most of the hot, sunny days ahead if not organizing a BBQ or garden party?!

And no, throwing a party and enjoying yourself does not mean that you are messing up your healthy diet or giving up on your health and weight loss goals. However, if you wish to make a party as healthy as possible, learn about the healthiest (and simplest!) recipes to share with your friends.

Fruits, Dry Fruits, and Nuts

Depending on where you live, you can enjoy delicious, fresh, and seasonal fruit in summer. If you are hosting a garden or pool party during a hot sunny day, offering fruit can be a great way to keep your guests hydrated and nourished. And, you can get creative with fruit salads!

Alongside fresh fruit, consider offering dry fruit, nuts, and seeds. These are extremely nutritious and provide important nutrients such as healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals. Opt for raw, unsalted one to avoid adding additional calories and oils.

Salads

If offering salads at a party seems boring to you, think again! You can create colorful salads with fruits and vegetables – and you can spice them up with nuts, seeds, or even edible flowers! There are many benefits to serving salads at your party: they are delicious low-calorie recipes and they can be plant-based, gluten-free, and even kosher, which means that you can make all of your friends happy at once!

Hummus and Falafels

Middle Eastern cuisine is an oasis for vegans and vegetarians, and you can create delicious and healthy versions of traditional recipes in no time. For example, you can make hummus, falafels, and babaganoush with just a few essential ingredients. If you are looking for the perfect dips to go with your vegetables, these dishes are perfect. And, of course, your guests can enjoy all the benefits of legumes and vegetables.

Salsa and Guacamole

No party can be complete without plenty of dips! If you are looking for healthy snacks to offer your guests, start by choosing legume-based or pea-based dippers – or just opt for vegetable sticks altogether. Also, you can make your snacks much healthier by making them at home. Options like salsa and guacamole are extremely easy to make – and yet so tasty!

Vegetable Chips

Vegetable chips are a healthier alternative to potato chips – which are a must-have at any party! All you need to do to make potato chips is find your favorite vegetables – including carrots, kale, parsnips, and sweet potatoes -, slice them, and let them bake in the oven. Depending on your requirements, you can make them low-salt or even oil-free.

Pizza and Focaccia

Pizza is not universally considered a healthy food – but it is not as bad as you may think! At its core, pizza is nothing more than a type of bread with tomato, mozzarella, and vegetables on top. While store-bought, fried, or stuffed-crust ones might be unhealthy, you can add a healthy twist to this meal by making it yourself. All you need is a pizza stone for grill, fresh ingredients, and a good Italian recipe to follow!

Have questions? Comments? I would love to hear what you think below!

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Jinan Banna

CEO at Jinan Banna LLC

Jinan Banna, PhD, RD is the founder of Jinan Banna LLC and an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the University of Hawaii. Her research interest is in obesity prevention. Jinan helps working women to lose weight so that they can feel confident and energetic by offering free information on her blog, as well as nutrition coaching. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a Doctorate in Nutritional Biology. She is also a registered dietitian.