With Labor Day just around the corner, you might find yourself opting for the traditional packaged hot dogs and bag of potato chips. 

However, we have the best Labor Day idea in terms of serving up one tasty menu…

Upgrade your cookout menu this Labor Day weekend with these healthy recipes and ideas!

12 Healthy Labor Day Ideas

Hot dogs and hamburgers are classics at cookouts, but they are not always the most delicious and nutritious options. 

Instead of resorting to those heavier items, we lighten up the menu with these 12 unique recipes:

1. Grilled Vegetable Salad with Herb Dressing
2. Summer Farro Salad
3. Greek Yogurt Coleslaw
4. Vegan Potato Salad
5. Glorious Grilled Potatoes
6. Roasted Garlic Hummus in Cucumber Cups
7. Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Bruschetta
8. Perfectly Grilled BBQ Chicken
9. Herb Beef Sirloin Skewers
10. Healthy Corn & Zucchini Fritters
11. Honey Drizzled Broiled Grapefruit
12. Purely Pomegranate Mojito

Not only will your guests appreciate these sophisticated Labor Day ideas, but your waistline will also! 

1. Grilled Vegetable Salad with Herb Dressing

Grilling vegetables is a great way to add extra flavor and a hint of smokiness to the season's best vegetables. And this grilled vegetable salad with herb dressing does just that!

The recipe calls for various vegetables, including bell pepper, eggplant, zucchini, amongst many others. While the vegetable salad is delicious as is, feel free to adjust veggies and herbs to liking. 

While this particular dish perfect for those watching carb and calorie intake, it is a recipe all will want to enjoy! 

2. Summer Farro Salad

What better way to wrap up summer than with a summer salad? (And one that proves salad goes beyond those standard salad greens!)

This barley and farro salad recipe features to mighty whole grains offering a bounty of nutrients, slight crunch, and nutty flavor. The grains perfectly complement the flavors of fresh veggies, which are tied together with a homemade vinaigrette.

The light summer farro salad is truly perfect for sharing with others and preps well ahead of time. 

3. Greek Yogurt Coleslaw

Coleslaw is a staple at cookouts, though heavy mayo can turn it from fab to drab fast. No guests want that! 

Our healthy Greek yogurt coleslaw features all you want from coleslaw, along with being power-packed with nutrients. The recipe contains just 40 calories per serving and serves 10, making a perfect complement to al fresco dining! 

For a non-dairy Labor Day recipe, give this quick and healthy vinegar-based cabbage slaw a try. It contains crunchy shredded carrot and cabbage tossed with a tangy dressing, all without the dairy (and mayo)! 

4. Vegan Potato Salad

Want a vegan potato salad? Or simply just want a tasty potato salad recipe, vegan or not? If nodding your head, you have got to give this mayo-less vegan potato salad a go!

Like most traditional potato salad recipes, it is exactly what you want: Creamy and flavorful.

Unlike most traditional recipes, it is free of heavy mayo that can turn the salad from a delicious spud to dud.

The potato salad is also uniquely flavored with Dijon mustard, scallions, and dill pickles for one explosively bite!

5. Glorious Grilled Potatoes

Forego that potato chip bag and quickly grill up these glorious potatoes! 

This delicious potato recipe is seasoned to perfection with garlic and hone, with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese complete this side dish.

6. Roasted Garlic Hummus in Cucumber Cups

Looking for an appetizer that will really impress your guests? These cucumber cups with roasted garlic hummus are the perfect finger food for your next get together. 

Make it a vibrant part of the meal by garnishing with a variety of options. We recommend topping with cherry tomato, goat cheese, or Kalamata olives.

7. Mushroom, Caramelized Onion, and Goat Cheese Bruschetta

Bruschetta is the perfect summer appetizer and deliciously simple to make! And not to mention, highly sophisticated… 

Our mushroom, caramelized onion, and goat cheese bruschetta recipe is the perfect appetizer for a hungry crowd. (And trust us, everybody will go crazy for it!)

8. Perfectly Grilled BBQ Chicken

Ending up with a dry piece of chicken with burnt BBQ sauce? Enjoy juicy, moist, tangy, and sweet BBQ chicken everyone craves but not always receives?

Look no further than this perfectly grilled BBQ chicken recipe. This recipe is a sure way to grill chicken to perfection every single time while impressing every single guest!

9. Herb Beef Sirloin Skewers

These herb beef sirloin skewers might be simple to make, but oh how they burst with dynamic flavor! 

Each bite is flavor-packed with lemon juice and fresh herbs, including parsley, rosemary, and thyme to make the beef even more delicious. 

And with 29 grams of protein per serving, everyone’s appetite is sure to be satisfied! 

10. Healthy Corn & Zucchini Fritters

Fresh and light, these corn and zucchini fritters make an excellent appetizer or side dish for your Labor Day cookout!

While the fritters are packed with veggies, they are likewise bursting with fresh flavor. The fritters are also a simple recipe to prepare with so many tasty serving options. 

11. Honey Drizzled Broiled Grapefruit

Add a touch of natural sweetness to your Labor Day menu with honey drizzled broiled grapefruit!

Broiling juicy grapefruit with a bit of honey and ginger creates the perfect caramelized crust. And, really, it transforms the fruit into one surprisingly warm and delicious dessert! 

Guests can also customize the taste with their choice of toppings. Delicious combos include light ice cream, cinnamon, Greek yogurt, toasted nuts, dried fruit.

12. Purely Pomegranate Mojito

Most cocktails come with sugary mix-ins that pack on unwanted calories. However, our purely pomegranate mojito recipe uses fresh flavors and clocks in at 90 calories per serving!

Now that is a drink to cheers to the summer season and fall in love with!