Summer is just around the corner and if you’re like me, you are looking forward to all of the delicious food whether it’s at a summertime BBQ, down by the water, or a picnic in the park. Being a vegan I know the feeling of going to a public setting where food will be served and not knowing if there’s something suitable for you to eat. The following list will cover some of the most popular summertime foods suitable for some of the most popular dietary preferences that are sure to be crowd-pleasers.
No Dietary Preferences
1. Watermelon Salad - Watermelon salad is the perfect summertime dish that's sure to be a crowd-pleaser. The feta and balsamic glaze topping compliment the watermelon perfectly, making for a sweet and salty appetizer. If feta isn't an option, you could always do a blue cheese, however, I'd be surprised if that's the case as feta is one of the most popular cheeses according to NinaTeicholz.com.
2. Pasta Salad - Everyone loves pasta, and you can't go wrong with pasta salad. Instead of cooking a hot pasta dish, opt for a nice and cold pasta salad with some veggies thrown into the mix.
Vegan
1. Beyond Meat Burgers - Put one of these bad boys on the grill and I can promise you all of the non-vegan folk you’re with won't realize that the patty isn’t actually meat. A study from FoodNavigator.com suggests that 70% beyond meat purchasers are meat eaters themselves.
2. Lemon Blueberry Muffins - Often times, people don’t realize deserts can be vegan. There’s no better way to prove them wrong then to bake a delicious and citrusy sweet to blow their minds. Pro tip: don't tell them you replaced the egg with applesauce, it scares many folks away.
Ketogenic
1. Deviled eggs - Deviled eggs are not just for Thanksgiving dinner ladies and gentleman. They are a wonderful appetizer that fit into the ketogenic diet.
2. Cauliflower potato salad - Of course, I had to include a cauliflower recipe on this list with it's ever increasing popularity. Subbing cauliflower for anything that requires carbs such as rice, potatoes, pizza crust, and more is a really great way to cut down.
Paleo
1. Lemon Basil Shrimp Skewers - Protein and skewers? Sounds like a summertime dish to me. These skewers are light, refreshing, and work great with the paleo diet.
2. Grilled Pineapple and Lobster Salad - Can you think of anything more refreshing than a grilled pineapple and lobster salad? I sure can't. Grilling any fruit and throwing it with a meat or fish is a wonderful way to compliment the meal and throw in a summer twist.
Which one of these recipes will you be testing out this summer?
