Fireworks,

enjoying time with family and friends,

soaking up the sun at the pool,

or relaxing on the lake!

If you are like us, you are not only looking forward to celebrating all things summer, but especially celebrating our upcoming patriotic holiday with family and friends, and savoring life feeling a little more normal this year.

Just in case you’re inspired to make this red, white and blue holiday even more special by creating a fun theme with your food, we will warn you…don’t go googling “red, white and blue recipe ideas”…your REAL food lifestyle will go right out the window!  You are bound to find red and blue food coloring in nearly everything, along with lots of cakes, cookies, Rice Krispie treats, red and blue jello, marshmallows, gumdrops, whoopee pies, and even blue pop rocks added to desserts and summer drinks!

REAL food to the rescue!

It IS possible to enjoy delicious and fun ideas for 4th of July…REAL food style!

We want to share some great ideas, including ones your family and friends will LOVE!  Keep in mind, there are lots of REAL ingredients that can fit into a color theme for this patriotic holiday including strawberries, blueberries, watermelon, cherries, rhubarb, tomatoes, coconut, jicama, kohlrabi, apples, yogurt, and even natural vanilla ice cream…just to name a few!

Super Summer Salads:

Dreamy Fruit ‘n Nutty Salad – a unique salad with fruit, nuts, yogurt, honey and chia seeds…simple and delicious!

Red, White and Blueberry Salad – the crunch of peeled jicama or kohlrabi complete this salad perfectly!

Mixed Fruit Salad – so simple and easy…this salad ALWAYS gets rave reviews!

Salad with Addictive Spicy Pecans and Berries – who knew nuts could be so addictively delicious?!

Watermelon Blueberry Salad – Zonya and her sweet mama enjoyed a version of this salad at a restaurant and it was so good we had to recreate it!

Diced Caprese Salad – adding blueberries to this one may blow your mind and, when you do, you will see that’s what it is…mind-blowingly delicious!

Creamy Fruit Salad – a little coconut milk, yogurt, honey and lime transform fruit into an amazing combination!

Roasted Beet and Mixed Berry Salad – if you have never roasted beets, this salad is definitely one to try — the flavor of the caramelized roasted beets pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the berries in this flavor loaded salad.

Healthified 3 Bean Salad – this favorite will disappear quick — so much flavor that gets even better the next day!

A few Sizzling Summer Holiday Main Dishes:

PBR Beer Can Chicken – WOWZER!  One taste of this phenomenal chicken and you will be lucky the entire thing makes it to the dinner table!  A great way to enjoy America’s blue ribbon beer!

Goat Cheese Chicken with Blueberry Salsa – chicken stuffed with goat cheese and seasonings, and then topped with blueberry salsa – amazing flavor!

Pork Chops with Blueberry Ginger Relish – marinated pork chops topped with a Blueberry Ginger Relish…you will want to make this one again and again!

Balsamic Watermelon Chicken Salad – the flavors of the watermelon, blue cheese and balsamic reduction come together for a refreshing summer meal!

Beat the heat with these fun summer dessert and drink ideas:

Red, White and Blueberry Popsicles – no food coloring here…these popsicles are bursting with color from the blueberries and raspberries.

Grilled Banana Split – you read right…a banana split on the grill!  Summer dessert at its best!

Oatmeal Cookie Parfait Cups – excellent with yogurt or vanilla ice cream, and loaded up with fresh berries!

Berry and Raw Brownie Parfait – layers of color and flavor, including chewy chocolate brownie!

Almond Butter Brownies topped with yogurt and berries – transform our delicious brownies into a yogurt parfait!

Red, White and Blueberry Spritzer – one of our Eat REAL America members made these with sparking wine and said “it was a huge hit!”

Mountain Berry Iced Tea – fantastic for any time of the year, and especially perfect and seasonal for 4th of July!

Another one of our favorite dessert ideas is to make the In-Season Fruit Crisp because it is so versatile and lets you take advantage of your favorite in-season fruits, whether it is berries, peaches, apples, or pears.  Watch our video to see how easy it is to whip up this delicious dessert!

We hope this helps inspire you for your 4th of July holiday plans to keep it fun, delicious AND healthy!

Have a safe and relaxing holiday!