Summer is finally here, and it’s almost time for family barbecues and red, white, and blue.
But as summer BBQ celebrations are being planned, processed foods are readily available to fill our get-together needs. Hot dogs, packaged breads, condiments, and cold salads fill the store shelves. They are quick to grab and full of artificial colors, additives, and preservatives.
With just a little planning, you can create a celebration that nourishes your family’s time together as well as their bodies! Even if you are not the planner of the event, you can still make your contribution a “real food” one.
Happy Independence Day!
Main Dishes
Tip: Use a stainless steel grill pan to keep drippings off of your grill and make cleanup super simple.
1. Easy Homemade Burger Patties from Red and Honey
2. Buf-A-Cue Shrimp from Life Currents
3. Green Tomato Bacon Jam Burgers from Farm Fresh Feasts
4. Cedar-Cooked Wild Salmon from Keep the Beet
5. Argentinian Beef Kabobs with Chimichurri Sauce from The Organic Kitchen
6. Beef Short Ribs with Paleo BBQ Sauce from Hollywood Homestead
7. Tri-tip with Pomegranate BBQ Sauce and Caramelized Onions from The Organic Kitchen
Side Dishes
8. Creamed Corn from Raia’s Recipes
9. Confetti Potato Salad from Farm Fresh Feasts
10. Grilled Pineapple from It’s a Love/Love Thing
11. Grilled Asparagus With Lemon Butter Sauce from Montana Homesteader
12. Vegetable Skewers from Gourmande in the Kitchen
13. Apple Chicken Salad from These Temporary Tents
14. Sprouted Baked Beans from Raising Generation Nourished
15. The Great American Potato Salad Revival from Holistic Squid
16. Simple Summer Carrot Salad (gluten-free, dairy-free option, Autoimmune option) from Delicious Obsessions
17. Gluten-Free Scalloped Potatoes from Raia’s Recipes
18. Sweet N’ Tangy Barbecue Bean and Quinoa Salad (Gluten Free, Vegan) from MIX Wellness
19. Simple Cucumber, Avocado, Tomato Salad from Healthy Roots, Happy Soul
20. Microgreens Fruit Salad from A Harmony Healing
21. Citrus Kaleslaw from Economies of Kale
22. Spring Herb Potatoes from One Beet
23. Classic Coleslaw (Grain Free, Egg Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free Option) from Raising Generation Nourished
24. Apple Dill Coleslaw from Just Enjoy Food
25. Tangy Green Bean Salad with Crispy Walnuts (Gluten and Dairy Free) from Delicious Obsessions
26. Grainy Mustard Potato + Massaged Kale Salad from With Food + Love
27. Paleo Side Salad from Paleo Gone Sassy
Dessert
Tip: Whipped cream over fresh fruit makes a simple and delicious dessert. Instantly turn your cream into whipped cream with this Cream Whipper.
28. Red, White, and Blue Popsicles from Oh Lardy!
29. 3 Super Simple Red, White and Blue Fruit Treats from Nourishing Minimalism
30. 4th of July Berry Cobbler from Life Made Full (grain free)
31. Red, White & Blue Muffins from Farm Fresh Feasts
32. Patriotic Popsicles from Fresh Bites Daily
34. Patriotic Waffles from It Takes Time
35. Patriotic Fruit Salad with Spiced Rum and Honey from Nourishing Minimalism
36. Mixed Fruit Cobbler Recipe (grain and dairy free) from Delicious Obsessions
37. Fresh Berry Mini Pound Cake Trifles from Healthy Roots Happy Soul
38. Rainbow Fruit Skewers from Finger Prickin’ Good
39. Blackberry + Mango Lemon Poppy Seed Fruit Salad from With Food + Love
40. Rich Strawberry Shortcake with Cream Cheese Filling from Richly Rooted
41. Deep Dish Apple Pie with Fennel and Ginger (gluten, grain, and dairy free) from Delicious Obsessions
42. Berry Custard with Sweet Cream from Our Nourishing Roots
43. Key-Lime Coconut Cake (Grain and Sugar Free) from The Humbled Homemaker
44. Baseball Nut Ice Cream from Life Currents
45. Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream
46. Magic Chocolate Sauce from Our Nourishing Roots
Condiments
Tip: Some organic condiments from the store are fine. Look for organic ketchup and mustard to start.
47. Mom’s Homemade Barbecue Sauce from Raia’s Recipes
48. Coconut Oil Chicken Glaze from Real Food RN
49. Homemade Ketchup by Rethink Simple
50. Avocado and Fig (Fertility) Salsa from MIX Wellness
51. Magic Mayonnaise by Lisa’s Counter Culture
52. Homemade Miracle Whip from Homemade Dutch Apple Pie
53. Fresh Garden Salsa (Lacto-Fermented)
55. Spicy Horseradish Mustard by Pickle Me Too
56. Maple BBQ Sauce by Rethink Simple
57. Zesty BBQ Sauce by Scratch Mommy
58. GAPS Legal BBQ Sauce by Purposeful Nutrition
59. Dairy Free “Buttermilk” Ranch Dressing by Southern Test Kitchen
60. Hearty Blue Cheese Salad Dressing by Thyme Square Gardens
62. Lemon Thyme Vinaigrette by Little B Cooks
63. Herb Infused French Wine Dressing by Thyme Square Gardens
64. Guacamole by Southern Test Kitchen
65. Pineapple Salsa (raw-vegan) from Jar O’ Honey
67. Fresh Summer Salsa w/ Cucumber from Recipes to Nourish
68. Bacon & Bone Broth BBQ Sauce from Real Food RN
Beverages
Tip: Use glass beverage containers whenever possible (to avoid BPA and other plastic byproducts), like this Mason Jar Beverage Dispenser.
69. Strawberry Watermelon Slushee (Dairy Free, Autoimmune Friendly) from Delicious Obsessions
70. Raspberry Ginger Iced Green Tea from Richly Rooted
71. Cherry Mango Water Kefir Smoothie from The Humbled Homemaker
72. Fresh Homemade Flavored Water
73. Frozen Watermelon Pineapple Smoothie from A Harmony Healing
74. Hibiscus Strawberry Iced Tea Cooler from Recipes to Nourish
75. Honey-Sweetened Lemonade (GAPS-friendly) from Our Nourishing Roots
76. Healthy Strawberry Cappuccino from Healing, Yoga, and Qigong
77. Sparkly Mint Lemonade from South Beach Primal
78. Cherry Mint Lemonade (Honey Sweetened) from Recipes to Nourish
79. Refreshing Limeade from The Organic Kitchen
80. Watermelon Limeade from Richly Rooted
Pin It:
Vanessa integrates EMDR, sandtray, and attachment-focused approaches in her work and is completing credentials toward Registered Play Therapist and EMDRIA certification. With a background as a certified birth doula and a passion for making healing accessible, she writes and teaches on the intersection of trauma, neurodevelopment, and story-based therapy.