Tasty Food Ideas For Your Labor Day Keto Party

With Labor Day right around the corner, the party planning has begun. And sometimes it can be tricky to plan a party that all your friends will enjoy without breaking all the rules when it comes to nutrition. But fear not, this article is your guide to throwing a party full of tasty treats that your guests will enjoy even if they haven’t embraced your keto lifestyle.

Drinks

We’ll start with the drinks. If you’ve been keto for a while, you understand that strictly speaking, alcohol isn’t exactly keto. However, the best part of a keto lifestyle is that nothing has to be truly off-limits, but rather, almost everything can be consumed in moderation within the general structure of the ketogenic principles.

If you’re looking to enjoy an alcoholic beverage, zero net carb liquors are your best bet for your keto lifestyle. Below are a few refreshing suggestions for your party.

• Vodka + Sparkling Water (Zevia and LaCroix are two favorites)

• Vodka or Gin + KetoLogic BHB Cucumber-Lime (mix with water)

• Tequila + KetoLogic BHB Orange-Mango (mix with water)

Try to stick with unsweetened and unflavored liquor. These tasty cocktails will please you and your guests alike. But remember to consume slowly and in moderation.*

Snacks

While a party isn’t complete without ice cold beverages, every good party host knows that the snacks can make or break a get together. Luckily for you, there are endless delicious keto options that your friends will enjoy as much as you do!

• Veggie Tray

  Go ahead and stock up on raw veggies and some full-fat ranch dressing. While veggie trays seem a little boring, they tend to go quickly at parties, especially when there are numerous other hot and filling snacks (see below).

• Spinach Dip

   

  

  This is a great snack served hot or cold that your guests will enjoy. This dip goes perfectly with low-carb chips or crackers and those veggies mentioned above.

• Pinwheels

  

  Another light and simple snack option is deli meat, cheese,** and mayonnaise pinwheels. Pinwheels are another party staple that are a fan favorite during the hot summer months. This is also your chance to see whether that homemade mayonnaise recipe you’ve been enjoying for months is well received by your non-keto friends.

• Guacamole

  

  It may seem like you’ll overwhelm your guests with two green dips if you serve a spinach dip and guacamole, but adding guacamole to your menu will give your non-dairy friends a tasty dip to enjoy. While this recipe doesn’t mention it, consider adding some bacon to your guacamole for a twist if your guests won't mind.

• Bacon-Wrapped Smokies

  This is a keto, paleo, and meat lover’s dream snack. The best part is that they’re as easy as they are tasty. Simply take Lit'l Smokies, wrap them in bacon, and secure the bacon with a toothpick. Consider adding a keto-friendly sauce to spice these up a little bit. Even without added sauce, these will hit the spot.

• Jalapeño Poppers

  

  For your spicy friends, give this a try. It’s super simple and certain to be a crowd pleaser. Include this snack for your guests and they’ll appreciate your creativity as well as the full flavor of these poppers.

Dinner

If the snack part of this party seemed easy, just wait for dinner. Labor Day is a holiday that is known for grilling. This caters perfectly to a keto lifestyle. Below are a few dinner (or lunch) main course ideas for your Labor Day festivities.

• Bratwurst with Pepper and Onions

  

  The easiest way to prepare this meal is to follow the preparation steps in the link. If you’re not determined to grill and your guests won’t pass judgment, I’d recommend going this route. However, it is Labor Day, so feel free to fire up the grill and attack prep a little differently. Follow the ingredient list and prepare as follows: throw the vegetables, spices, and oil into an aluminum foil-wrapped basket, wrap it up, and grill until cooked -- this is an easy way to seal in the complementing flavors. Grill the bratwurst directly on the grill. At this point, you have the option to pull them off the grill a couple of minutes early and place them into the foil (recommended for keto friends) or cook them on the grill until finished, allowing your non-keto friends to eat them with hot dog buns and have the veggies as sides.

• Portobello Bacon Burgers

  

  If you’re looking for a chance to impress your friends, try tackling this creation. While the recipe is very simple, your friends will be impressed by its creativity and that a burger without a bun can be so delicious. Just follow the prep instructions in the link and scale the recipe as needed for a dinner option that will leave your friends wondering why they haven’t adopted a keto lifestyle yet. (The grilled portobello will also provide a dinner option for your vegetarian friends.)

Dessert

• Strawberry Ice Cream

• No Labor Day party is complete without ice cream. While you could purchase standard ice cream from the grocery store and your non-keto friends would be satisfied, there’s no reason that your keto lifestyle should keep you from enjoying a large bowl of ice cream as well. Try this Soft-Serve Strawberry Ice Cream for the perfect end to your keto-friendly Labor Day Party.

I hope that this guide helps you enjoy your holiday. For other ideas, check out the Recipe section on the KetoLogic website.

*Most people on a ketogenic, or any low-carb diet for that matter, tend to experience a much lower alcohol tolerance than usual. Remember to consume in moderation and be aware that your tolerance is likely lower than it was prior to reducing your carbohydrate intake. Alcohol will also serve as a natural diuretic, so be sure to consume more water than usual.

**Stick to a non-processed cheese option for your pinwheels.