Summertime is here and another lake and party season have begun. Memorial Day, graduations, 4th of July, BBQs, weddings, Labor Day, etc. Lots of opportunities to eat and drink too much! In order to take care of our health, we need an alternative to the calorie-laden, but delicious dips that normally show up. I have found 10 simple and healthy appetizers for summer.

Weekends with family and friends at the lake always bring lots of food – usually too much for anybody to eat. Each person that comes brings enough food to feed an army for a week. And, of course as the host, you feel like you have to have lots of options available just in case there isn’t enough food. Sound familiar?

This is true for summer backyard parties as well. Good company, great food, and refreshing drinks make for an amazing party.  The problem is that when you are hosting at the lake for most weekends and attending parties every week, eating that much great food does not fit into your health plan!

The usual dips and snacks have cream cheese, sour cream, mayo, or lots of cheese in them. Accompanied by chips and crackers. However, it’s rude not to eat what people bring, right?
It would be so nice to get through a weekend or a party without blowing it. So, unless you have strong self-discipline, my suggestion is to start rounding up healthy alternatives.

I’ve started a list of simple and healthy appetizers for you.

Watermelon Fries w/Coconut Lime Dip
I love fries of any variety, so instead of all of those carbs and fat, I will try these! I’m thinking this would be on the day of preparation so that the watermelon stays fresh.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
Cutting up the fruit in this recipe, might take a little bit of time, but you can refrigerate the salsa for up to 5 days and it can be put in the freezer for 2 months. Great idea to keep on hand for summer parties.

Greek Seven Layer Hummus Dip
A healthier version of one of my favorites, the taco dip! This recipe has directions to make your own hummus, but I’m guessing you could use store-bought as well.

Crispy Garlic Roasted Chickpeas
I love a crunchy snack, so instead of peanuts or chips, I will try these. The first time I made these, I did not turn them over every 10 minutes, and I burnt them to a crisp! Make sure you are checking on them.

Related Post – Small Things I Can Do to Eat Healthier

Buffalo Cauliflower Dip
A great alternative to the Buffalo Chicken Dip that my family loves!

Avocado Crack Dip
I love guacamole, so I am looking forward to trying this one. The avocados and cheese may add a few more calories, but we can try to eat in moderation?

Here are a few more recipes to try this summer.

Cowboy Caviar
This article has everything you wanted to know about cowboy caviar! This is one of my favorite dips.

Healthy Taco Dip
This is similar to the Greek Seven Layer recipe, but with a more Mexican flair.

Cucumber & Lemon Water –
For those times we do overeat and need a little detox, or just to have on hand to drink in between the summer cocktails.

Don’t forget raw veggies, cut-up fruit, salsa, and bruschetta are always good alternatives as well. Lay them out on a nice platter similar to the picture at the beginning of this post.

My goal this summer is to be more intentional about what I provide and what I eat at the lake and at summer parties. This list of 10 simple and healthy appetizers is a good start. There are a million more on Pinterest.

What is your go-to healthy appetizer? Share in the comments below and let’s all be a little healthier while we are partying and entertaining this summer!