Healthy Cookout Ideas - Appetizers & Drinks
What is Labor Day weekend without a cookout? Spend some time soaking up the last of Summer with your favorite people and some great food…that’s also good for you! We’ve rounded up a collection of our favorite healthy recipes for you to try at your Labor Day cookout this year.

Snacks and Appetizers
Rosemary Dippers (Serves 6)
- 2 cups flour
- 1 egg
- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1 Tbsp. minced fresh rosemary
- 1/2 tsp. sea salt
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, beat the egg and the olive oil together. Stir in the remaining ingredients and mix well, giving it a few kneads. Turn the mixture out onto a sheet of parchment paper and flatten it a bit. Cover with another sheet of parchment paper and roll out to 1/8 inch thick. Remove the top sheet of parchment and cut into 1-inch squares with a sharp knife. Transfer the squares (with the bottom sheet of parchment still there) to a sheet pan and bake for 15-20 minutes, checking occasionally. Note: the outside crackers might be done sooner than the center crackers; if so, just remove the pan from the oven and carefully transfer the finished crackers to a plate to cool. Continue baking the remaining crackers until they are just barely golden in color.
Spiced Hummus (Serves 6-8)
- 1 can Garbanzo Beans
- 1 Tbsp. sesame seeds, ground
- 1/3 cup Tahini
- 3 Tbsp. chopped garlic
- Juice of one lemon (or more for consistency)
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 1 tsp. ground turmeric
- 1 tsp. ground red pepper or cayenne pepper
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
Puree all ingredients in food until smooth and creamy. Serve with a rainbow of fresh veggies: carrots, celery, squash, zucchini, string beans, red and yellow peppers, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, etc.

Drinks
Ginger Kombucha Cocktail (Serves 1)
- 3 oz ginger-flavored kombucha (look for low sugar variety)
- 1½ oz vodka (or other clear hard liquor OR see mocktail substitutions)
- Juice of ½ lime
- Stevia for sweetness
- Pinch of Himalayan pink salt
- Lime wedge
Combine vodka, lime juice, and stevia in an ice-filled highball (tall) glass. Top with kombucha and garnish with a lime wedge or squeeze it into the drink. For a “mocktail”, omit vodka and add additional 1½ oz kombucha or seltzer water in its place.
Moscow Mule Mocktail (Serves 1)
- 1/2 cup ginger beer
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 3 tablespoons club soda
Mix the ingredients in a copper mug 3/4 full of crushed ice. Stir together. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Strawberry Orange Mocktail (Serves 4)
- 1 lb. fresh strawberries (if using frozen, unsweetened strawberries, can adjust the ice)
- ½ cup pure orange juice
- ½ cup ice cubes
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- ½ cup sparkling water, lemon or lime flavored, if desired
Place fruit, juice, and ice in a blender. Blend on medium-high until the desired consistency is reached. Should be a smoothie-like thickness. Pour into glass, ¾ full, then top with sparkling water. Leave as-is or stir in slightly.
Lemon-Lime Refresher (Serves 3)
- 3 cups of water (filtered, sparkling, or coconut water)
- ¼ cup of fresh lemon juice
- ¼ cup of fresh lime juice
- 2-3 Tbsp. of maple syrup or honey (or stevia to taste for a sugar-free alternative)
- ½ tsp. sea salt or ¼ tsp. Himalayan pink salt
- Ice cubes
Combine all ingredients well.