September is here, meaning summer is coming to close. Don’t start tearing up yet, though! Monday is Labor Day, otherwise known as a day off of work to barbecue with some friends, go for a swim in the pool and take in the last rays of the summer sunshine. Of course you’ll need some food, so here are healthy recipes for you to cook up this weekend.
Appetizers
1. Garden Pasta Salad
Joshua Resnick/Fotolia
Pasta salad is often drowned in some type of fatty dressing, but why should you have to give up such an American Barbecue staple? This pasta salad calls for a light dressing made up of low-fat plain yogurt, extra-virgin olive oil, reduced-fat mayo, vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper. Lightly cover the pasta with the dressing, toss in the veggies and you’re good to go. Get the full recipe here.
2. Tomato Basil Salad
Dennis "DieTa" Klein/Unsplash
Want an alternative to pasta salad? A tomato basil salad is simple. All you need is tomatoes, basil, mixed herbs, extra-virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Check out the recipe here to get started.
Entrees
1. Turkey Burgers
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You shouldn’t have to give up a Labor Day essential like burgers to stay healthy. Swap out the usual red meat with turkey meat and you’re on the right path. Once the meat is cooked and on the bun, top it off with lettuce, a tomato slice and some grilled onions. Follow the recipe here.
2. Sticky Grilled Chicken
Circleps/Fotolia
Who doesn’t like chicken wings? With this recipe, you’ll be able to munch on your own without compromising nutrition for the fryer. Marinate the chicken in a dressing made of low-sodium soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, minced garlic and scallions. After the chicken soaks in the marinate for 3 hours, throw it on the grill until cooked all the way through. The recipe can be found here.
Desserts
1. Watermelon Fruit Pizza
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Fruit’s natural sweetness makes for the perfect dessert. The Watermelon Fruit Pizza is not only tasty, but patriotic—perfect for a Labor Day party. A coat of yogurt-honey-vanilla spread tops off the watermelon base and then, to finish, sprinkle over strawberries, blackberries and mint. Recipe here.
2. Orange-Banana Smoothie Pops
Nataliia Pyzhoya/Fotolia
Late summer means high temperatures, so make an icy treat to keep you cool. Combine pureed Greek yogurt, thawed orange juice concentrate, bananas, lime zest and lime juice, blend, pour the mixture into molds and in about 4 hours you’ll have homemade popsicles. Find the recipe here.
Editing Note: This content was peer reviewed for spelling and grammar by the Being HER Team.