15 Pure Food Recipes for Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day is finally here to kick off the summer. I’m excited about all the fresh, easy summer food we get to cook and eat outside. Grilling and salads encourage summer parties and friends to gather together on the deck enjoying conversation in the beautiful summer evening and maybe even watch the sunset. Below is the sunset from my deck. It’s breath taking! I try and stop what I doing every day to go outside to appreciate it.

Summer grilling encourages parties and friends to gather together on the deck enjoying food and conversation in the beautiful warm evening. Maybe even watch the sunset. Below is the sunset from my deck. It’s breathtaking! I try and stop what I’m doing every day to go outside and appreciate it.

Do you know watching the sunset is good for your body, mind and spirit?  It’s one of the best forms of nature therapy.  According the medical medium Anthony Davis “watching the sunset is a powerful way to build trust. Nature can restore your trust. When the sun sets, you can trust that it will rise again. This is something you can count on.”

In a recent blog I wrote about the scientific studies showing people who feel connected with nature report being happier, kinder and have higher levels of satisfaction than those who don’t spend time in nature.

Here are 15 healthy and delicious recipes that are perfect for summer entertaining. Savor the long warm evenings outside and watch as many sunsets as you can. I’ve included vegan and paleo choices, so everyone will find something they love.

Raw Rainbow Spring Rolls – Eat Well Enjoy Life (vegan)

These Vietnamese Raw Rainbow Spring Rolls are a fresh and satisfying summer dish filled with colorful, crunchy vegetables, avocado and herbs. All you need is a sharp knife to transform the ingredients.

Paleo Blackened Salmon | Eat Well Enjoy Life (paleo, dairy free)

One of the easiest ways to prepare salmon it is rubbing it with this pungent blackened spice mix and cooking it in a cast iron pan or simply grilling it.  The spices in this Paleo Blackened Salmon create a crispy spicy crust on the outside with a moist, juicy fish on the inside.

Marinated Barbecued Tempeh | Eat Well Enjoy Life (vegan)

In this simple Marinated Barbecued Tempeh the piquant spices infuse the tempeh with “meaty” flavors making it so yummy everyone will love it, even if they’re not vegan.

Grilled Scallops with Parsley Garlic Sauce | Eat Well Enjoy Life (paleo, dairy free)

This is the season of having people over to your house for dinner. And when I think of having people over in the summer, Grilled Scallops Skewers with Parsley Garlic Sauce is one of my favorite easy dishes. Here they are skewered with zucchini ribbons, smothered in a parsley garlic sauce and grilled. Yum!

Rainbow Veggie Skewers | Gimme Some Oven (vegan, paleo)

These rainbow veggie skewers are amazingly colorful, healthy and delicious, grilled in a light vinaigrette.

Rainbow Noodles with Vegan Pesto – Eat Well Enjoy Life (vegan, paleo)

Turn vegetable “noodles” into a fun summer meal.  Lightly cooked “zoodles” make a healthy pasta alternative. Add fresh vegan pesto for a simple satisfying dish your entire family will love.

Cold Asian Noodle Salad | Lexi’s Clean Kitchen (paleo, vegan option)

Feed a crowd at your weekend barbecue with this Cold Asian Noodle Salad. Simply chop up all of the veggies, mix together the sauce, add in some rice noodles and presto, your Summer salad is complete.

Mexican Quinoa Salad with Orange Lime Dressing | Minimalist Baker (vegan)

This 30-minute salad starts with a bed of leafy greens and is topped with super foods like quinoa, black beans, and avocado. Orange segments and corn add brightness and a subtle sweetness. A creamy orange-lime avocado dressing ties it all together.

Watermelon Coconut Cooler| Nom Nom Paleo (vegan, paleo)

This watermelon cooler is a perfect beverage for your summertime parties.

Chopped Thai Salad with Sesame Garlic Dressing | Pinch of Yum (vegan, paleo)

A rainbow of power vegetables in a yummy homemade dressing.  Substitute avocado oil for canola oil and apple cider vinegar for the white distilled vinegar.

Paleo Blueberry Cobbler |  Eat Well Enjoy Life (vegan, paleo)

Nothing says summer like blueberry cobbler. The naturally sweet blueberries shine on their own, complimented by a tender, crumbly almond walnut topping. It’s grain free, gluten free and can be made vegan. It’s easy to make.

Grilled Sesame Lime Chicken Breasts | Melissa Clark NY Times (paleo, diary free)

Marinating chicken breasts in soy sauce, fish sauce and lime helps them retain moisture while they are on the grill. Use gluten free soy sauce.

Grilled Portobello Mushroom Steaks (video) |Eat Well Enjoy Life (vegan, paleo)

Grilled Portobello Mushrooms remind me of a great steak! Thick, juicy and perfectly vegan. It’s one of the first recipes I posted on my blog. I’m going to have to update those photos!  I make them all summer long.

Energizing Grilled Summer Salad | Eat Well Enjoy Life (paleo, vegan option)

Grilled romaine, oh WOW it’s so good! You and your guests will be thrilled to eat this salad of crisp romaine, grilled to bring out extra sweetness, along with grilled corn, chopped tomatoes, cucumbers, radicchio and a cilantro avocado dressing. The recipe includes grilled scallops but it also great alone or with grilled chicken, salmon or shrimp.

Vinegar Based Coleslaw  |Billy Parisi (vegan, paleo)

This is a super easy recipe of coleslaw without any mayo. It’s full of flavor and will stay fresh all day at your next barbecue.

I hope you enjoy these recipes all summer long. Go outside and connect with nature as much as possible, take time to enjoy the sunset and most of all enjoy your magnificent life.

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