Healthy Food for Memorial Day BBQs: Simple Recipes for Summer

Memorial Day is more than just the kickoff to summer—it’s a sacred time to remember and honor those who gave their lives in service. As you gather with family and friends, you can celebrate freedom with a table full of healthy food for Memorial Day.

That means allergy-friendly recipes, natural living tips, and a spirit of gratitude. Let this year’s Memorial Day gathering be filled with nourishing food, uplifting scents, and meaningful moments.

Simple Tips for a Naturally Memorable Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a time for celebrating, but also a time to honor those who have sacrificed for us. Since rosemary is for remembrance, we love to use it throughout our event as a theme. Remember to plan ahead as much as possible to leave yourself time to enjoy your company.

For tips on organizing your party planning, see our How to Entertain Like a Rockstar guide with the checklist for what to do when.

1. Set the Mood with a Signature Diffuser Blend

Instead of reaching for artificial candles or air fresheners, which often contain harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances, try setting the mood with pure essential oils. Choose a signature diffuser blend that complements your gathering and uplifts the atmosphere, while still being safe for those with sensitivities.

We put essential oil diffusers in each bathroom to keep guests comfortable. We also diffuse in our main gathering spaces or near the entryway to create a welcoming atmosphere. Be sure to try our exclusive ‘Honor & Light’ Memorial Day diffuser blend, designed to honor the meaning of the day.

2. Decorate with Purpose

Skip the disposable plastic flags and go for real, elegant charm—think glass vases filled with fresh herbs and flowers, navy blue napkins accented with gingham, and sprigs of rosemary (a symbol of remembrance) at each place setting. Consider red, white, and blue flowers. I like using submersible votives as well as have ones that light up in a variety of colors, so I will program them for red or blue lights to fit the theme. You can save money by using red accents from Christmas or Valentine’s Day for budget-friendly entertaining, too. These patriotic touches can remind us of the sacrifices made on our behalf.

3. Keep It Cool & Hydrated

Prepare a beverage station with infused waters and iced tea so guests can help themselves throughout the day. Offer options like Infused Mint Lemon Verbena Water and Iced Yerba Mate Tea for refreshing, naturally energizing choices. Our beverage station is set in an area that is easily reached by all the guests without blocking access to the food.

4. Reflect on the True Meaning

Incorporate moments of gratitude and remembrance into your gathering. Set aside time for prayer, share stories of loved ones who served, or read aloud from this collection of Bible verses for Memorial Day to inspire your guests with hope and honor. You could even include one of your favorite verses on the invitation.

5. Bless Your Guests with a Homemade Gift

Hospitality isn’t just about serving good food for Memorial Day—it’s about how you make people feel. One of the most heartfelt ways to express gratitude to your guests is by gifting them a small, homemade token of appreciation. Put your gifts in labeled or personalized bags ahead of time, and make extras in case other people come who didn’t RSVP.

Whether it’s a jar of Gardener’s Sugar Scrub, a tin of Whipped Body Butter, or a bottle of DIY Sunscreen Spray for summer safety, or a combination of all of them, these natural gifts are simple to make and leave a lasting impression. They’re also a beautiful way to share your love for healthy living while offering something truly personal.

Taking the time to prepare thoughtful gifts lets your guests know they’re seen, valued, and cherished, transforming an ordinary get-together into a memorable experience full of warmth and care.

“Generous hands are blessed hands because they give bread to the poor.” — Proverbs 22:9

Patriotic Diffuser Blend for Memorial Day

Diffuse this thoughtful blend throughout your home or outdoor entertaining space to encourage peace, remembrance, and joy.

This uplifting blend supports emotional clarity while honoring the deeper meaning of the holiday. See all of our summer and sunshine-inspired diffuser blends in our signature recipe post.

We also always light torches with citronella-infused bug repellent essential oils on our patio to help repel bugs for all our summer gatherings.

Food for Memorial Day Plan: Allergy-Friendly Recipes to Try

Whether you’re hosting a backyard barbecue, an outdoor picnic, or a cozy gathering at home, this round-up of healthy food for Memorial Day features real food ingredients that are allergy-friendly.

Every recipe is gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free. Transform your summer cookouts with these seasonal recipes. This meal plan will give you lots of options, but don’t feel obligated to do them all. Consider this your easy building blocks to select and customize for your own family and gathering. Remember to jot down what works so you can improve and simplify next year!

Appetizers

• Chips for dipping – We like Hu or Simple Mills crackers, masa chips, organic corn chips, organic potato chips with healthy oils + sea salt
• Fill-In-The-Gap Nuts – A protein-filled snack that you can season with the variation of your choice.
• French Onion Dip – Transform vegan sour cream into a delicious, creamy summer dip for your veggies.
• Gnocchi Recipe With Red and Green Pesto – These pestos are must-try recipes.
• Homemade Hummus with Variations – A fantastic recipe you can customize from one of several variations.
• Organic Fruit Tray – Look for organic produce like fresh cherries, grapes, kiwi, mango, melon, pineapple, raspberries, and strawberries. Serve with Lemon Fruit Dip.
• Organic Olive/Relish Tray
• Organic Vegetable Tray – Try organic vegetables like broccoli, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, peas, and radishes.
• Tasty Tomato Bisque – This soup is a favorite on my list of summery recipes and is always a crowd pleaser.

Side Dishes

• 4-Bean Salad With a Twist – Moving beyond traditional baked beans, this 4-bean salad is the ultimate summer salad.
• Brussels Sprouts Glazed with Honey Dijon Vinaigrette – Glaze your organic Brussels sprouts with our homemade honey mustard before oven roasting or cooking them on the grill.
• Colorful Kale Salad With Vegan Greek Dressing – Homemade dressing adds flair to this summer salad.
• Grilled Vegetable Skewers with French Dressing – Use this homemade dressing as a marinade for veggies on the grill.
• Kimchi (Cultured Veggies) – Healthy, gut-friendly probiotics are naturally found in this homemade side dish.
• Oven-Roasted Herbed Potatoes – Use these herb-roasted wedges as an alternative to French fries or potato salad.
• Sam’s Easy Bruschetta Recipe – Fresh organic tomatoes make a delicious side dish with this healthy recipe.
• Spinach and Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette – Transform seasonal garden produce into a delicious summery recipe.

Dinner or Lunch Main Dishes

• Basil Pasta With Garlic and Pine Nuts (Vegan) – One of our favorite pasta dishes, the basil makes it perfect for summer cookouts.
• Easy Chicken Salad Recipe with Vegan Ranch Dressing – The ultimate summer salad with homemade ranch dressing.
• Grilled hamburgers with Honey Mustard or Homemade Ketchup – Grass-fed, organic beef (pastured) takes center stage with this homemade hamburger recipe. Top your burgers with sugar-free, homemade condiments like homemade honey mustard or Mama Z’s ketchup recipe.
• Meat or Crockpot Lasagna – You can prep this ahead of time and cook it in a crockpot for a simple, but delicious, gluten-free Italian dinner option.
• Grilled turkey Bacon Wrapped Hot Dogs and Brats – Upgrade your ‘dogs’ by wrapping organic nitrate-free hot dogs or brats with organic nitrate-free turkey bacon before cooking.
• Vegan Taco Dip – More than an appetizer with layers, this taco-inspired dish is a dinner in its own right.

Desserts for Memorial Day

• Carrot Wedding Cake with Dairy-Free “Cream Cheese” Frosting – One of my most beautiful desserts, I love serving this at spring and summer parties.
• Raspberry or Orange Coconut Milk Whipped Cream – The base recipe is easy to adapt with summery flavors to top any of your dessert offerings.
• Gluten-Free Banana Bread with Organic Raw Local Honey – Whether moved from appetizers to desserts, naturally sweetened banana bread is a delicious offering.
• Mama Z’s Triple Lemon Bars or Orange Bars – Always a crowd-pleaser, choose lemon or orange, or both!
• “No” Sugar Lavender Cookies – The perfect summer dessert cookie, this utilizes lavender blooms to add a special touch for your guests.
• Watermelon Fruit Basket – The perfect summer dessert, especially when topped with dairy-free whipped cream!

Drinks for the Beverage Station

• Chai Tea Lattes w/Iced Options – Warm or iced tea is always a good choice when entertaining guests.
• Coffee Lattes (Hot and Iced) – A staple at every party, I always have these at the beverage station for guests to choose from.
• Dr. Z’s Citrus Soda Pop – An essential oil-powered alternative to sugar-laden soft drinks, this is a must-try!
• Iced Yerba Mate Tea – For a unique drink that may be something new for your guests, try our yerba mate iced tea.
• Infused Water with Organic Mint, Rosemary, and Lemon Verbena – Fresh organic berries and herbs make your infused water refreshing and eye-catching.
• Lemon Cooler – Keeping with the lemon theme throughout this menu plan, our lemon cooler is sure to get rave reviews.

DIY Gifts for Guest Bags

• DIY Sunscreen Spray – What better way to welcome summer than with a spray bottle of homemade, all-natural sun protection?
• Gardener’s Scrub – We joke that sugar scrubs are the only thing we use processed white sugar for, but it’s no joke. Your guests will love this outdoor-inspired exfoliating body care gift.
• Meditation Inhaler – We always try to include an inhaler as a gift, and you can use your favorite blend or the blend from your diffuser for the party. Or you can give something new for your guests to take home. Meditation and mindfulness is a great option for Memorial Day.
• Whipped Body Butter with Dried Lavender – Lavender takes the stage again in this skin-soothing, gorgeous DIY that is easy to make in a big batch, and give to guests in smaller glass jars.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, these healthy foods for Memorial Day will feed the body while your warm company will nourish the soul.