Lots of families have fun traditions for 4th of July breakfasts, and if you dont, you might want to start one! Pancakes, French toast and donuts take center stage on the 4th of July breakfast table (typically with some sort of red, white and blue sprinkles). If you dont want to forego your pancake tradition but are looking to make it a bit healthier, try this recipe for Patriotic Protein Pancakes from Living Well Kitchen. Theyre made with a mix of oats, cottage cheese, eggs and vanilla and served with a Greek yogurt berry mixture on top! They pair beautifully with a side of simple scrambled eggs and a mug of hot coffee. You can also make a super easy flag toast for breakfast, with a spread of strawberry jam, half circle slices of bananas and a corner of blueberries.
After breakfast comes salad, right? Although salads are healthy by nature, these salads in particular pack a wholesome punch thats perfect for a 4th of July lunch of dinner. This Buckwheat Pesto Salad takes the traditional 4th of July pesto pasta salad and gives it a twist by using our Organic Buckwheat Groats. Bean salad is another popular staple during this summer holiday, so if youre looking for an extra nutritious version, this Greek Garbanzo Bean Salad is a great one to experiment with. It calls for our Garbanzo Beans, English cucumbers, garlic, cherry tomatoes, Greek olives, feta and red onion for an end result that is oh-so-delightful. Top it all with a homemade, herb-infused dressing, and youre in for a true treat! This is one of our favorite healthy 4th of July recipes, though it can really be enjoyed at any point during the summer when ingredients are at their peak in flavor and texture.
No 4th of July barbecue is complete with a burger! Traditional burgers with meat patties are fun on occasion, but so are creative alternative burgers. These Spicy Veggie Burgers are made with Indian flavors to give them an exotic flair. They can be served with the traditional condiments and lettuce and tomatoes or you can take things a step further and surprise your guests with chutney and mustard or amaranth greens. These Farro Veggie Burgers are another tasty one to add to the 4th of July menu. They have an excellent texture and are bound to be loved by vegetarians and meat eaters alike. In addition to cooked farro, theyre made with a base of ingredients like fresh spinach, black beans, onion, bread crumbs, eggs and flaxseed meal. The seasonings of paprika, cumin, sea salt, black pepper and freshly chopped parsley create a delicious flavor and ensure that these burgers can be topped with just about anything. Keep in mind, you can also substitute the eggs with chia eggs, flax eggs, psyllium eggs or aquafaba.
Like their famous burger counterpart, hot dogs are a quintessential part of 4th of July celebrations, too! Instead of opting for a white flour bun and a hot dog thats been processed, go for whole grains and nutritious chicken sausage to make your hot dog dish a bit healthier. If youd like, you can even whip up a batch of your own Whole Grain Cheddar Hot Dog Buns. These buns are made with our Organic Ivory Wheat Flour, which is stone ground from organic whole grain hard white wheat berries and has a light color and flavor. If you dont quite want to venture into the realm of whole grain hot dog buns, this recipe is a good starting point (as this 100% whole grain flour is closer to white flour than our traditional whole wheat flour). You can omit the cheese in these buns if youre trying to avoid dairy or you can use something other than cheddar, depending on what you have in the fridge. As the headnote states, kielbasa, a kosher frank or even your favorite veggie dog will truly shine in these wonderful whole grain hot dog buns. Just dont forget the mustard and ketchup! If youre going for something traditional but with a festively creative twist, bring these Gluten and Dairy Free Corn Dogs to the party. Theyre made with Gluten Free Medium Grind Cornmeal, All Purpose GF Baking Flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, Xanthan Gum, egg and unsweetened milk substitute. All you need is the hot dogs and some corn dog sticks, and youll be set!
Potato salad is a must-have side dish for a classic 4th of July gathering. If youre trying to stay away from excessive amounts of mayo or looking to jazz up the traditional potato base, try whipping up one of these recipes. This Healthy Dill Potato Salad from Lively Table is the perfect accompaniment to a veggie burger. Its gluten free, nut free, mayo-free and entirely delicious! Its made with a base of red or gold new potatoes, red and green onion, celery and hard boiled egg. For the dressing, a mix of plain Greek yogurt, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, fresh dill and salt and pepper redefines the typical mayonnaise-filled potato salad. For something really different, change your potato base up and try this recipe for Sweet Potato Salad from Spend with Pennies. Its colorful and filled with summer ingredients like tomatoes and corn. You can make it spicy by adding in a bit of jalapeo, give it a boost of protein with grilled chicken or change up the dressing with a lemon or Dijon vinaigrette.
One of the best parts about 4th of July parties is without a doubt the cake! Cake is notorious for being packed with sugar, but weve come up with a few healthier alternatives so you dont get the after holiday sugar crash. Patriotic flag cakes are synonymous with 4th of July, and we love this healthier version of a Fruit Flag Cake from Erin of Well Plated. It features the same indulgent cake tastes but instead of artificial ingredients and fillers, its made with wholesome ingredients like eggs, Greek yogurt and Bobs Red Mill Whole Grain Ivory Wheat Organic Flour. Plus, its a no-fuss sheet cake, which means its super easy to transport to backyard barbecues and parties! For a creative cake alternative, this Sugar-Free 4th of July Cookie Dessert Pizza looks like a classic flag cake, but is actually made with a cookie base. Top your cookie with sliced strawberries and blueberries, and your festive treat will be ready for the party. You can also go the route of strawberry shortcake, which is easy to make and always looks beautiful (it tends to be loved by both kids and adults, too). This Strawberry Vanilla Shortcake from A Couple Cooks is sweet, spongy and made with ripe and sweet summer berries. As Sonja and Alex mention, its the type of cake youd imagine eating on a porch swing during the day or on a lazy summer night. Its also something for cookouts and 4th of July barbecues! We love the addition of balsamic vinegar and fresh mint in this dessert along with the option for homemade coconut whipped cream to top it all off!
What are some of your favorite healthy recipes for the 4th of July? Do you have any dishes you like to make year after year?
Feel free to share them with us in the comments below! Were forever searching for our next favorite red, white and blue dish (but of course, a simple burger, hot dog or potato salad will do the trick, too).
From all of us at Bobs Red Mill, Happy 4th of July! May it be filled with nutritious, wholesome ingredients and a whole lot of fun.
