The Struggle Plates of Labor Day Weekend 2015

By Ryan Joseph

Sep 8, 2015

Technology is a beautiful thing. With the help of smart phones, we can not only take high-quality pictures of the Labor Day food porn we’re eating, but also share it instantaneously on social networks. Then again, as evidenced by previous Struggle-Plate roundups, tech is a blessing and a curse because some peoples’ holiday dishes should not be seen by anyone.

As always, we’ve scoured Instagram for the most awesomely disgusting dishes from peoples’ celebrations of this final long weekend of the summer. Check them out below—although, your stomach would probably be thankful if you didn’t.

This “dessert” looks more like a weeks-old pot pie drenched in gravy

Caramel Apple Blondie Pie #eatlocal #apples #desserts #baking #southernliving #laborday #wildwonderful

A photo posted by Richele Cole (@richelewv) on Sep 7, 2015 at 3:07pm PDT

Ditching the buns doesn’t automatically make barbecue—and potato salad!—healthful

I love mom’s potato salad! And my brother is a pretty good grill cook. However, I seriously cannot wait to get back into the swing of things tomorrow. Mom is a little happier with the idea of us moving, so I feel less stressed, so hopefully I’ll eat better this week. I will make better choices. Clean eating here I come! And I’m planning to go to the gym tomorrow afternoon. I’m seriously missing it. I don’t usually like to go more than 2 days in a row without going and today is day 3! I am trying to focus on the bigger picture: losing this belly and making gains. #goals #labordayfood #homemade #food #cleaneating #getfit2015 #getmucles #getbacktowork #getbackontrack #icandothis #gym #workout #loseweight #weightloss #getfit #fitlife #letsgo #myfitnesspal #caloriecounting #macros A photo posted by Cait (@skintyminty25) on Sep 6, 2015 at 7:35pm PDT

#SelfAwareStruggle

I can’t have gas or charcoal grills on my balcony so the next best thing is the good old #georgeforeman #labordaystruggle

A photo posted by Colin (@convectuoso38) on Sep 7, 2015 at 2:14pm PDT

Lol, “plated struggle plate”

Appetitizer: deconstructed seared beef offal sausage topped with tomato vinaigrette, mustard seed extract and a cream composed of emulsified egg yolks, plated with a side of pickled garden cucumber chutney. #plating #IforgotIdidnthavehotdogbuns #struggleplate A photo posted by Johnson C (@eastvanj) on Sep 4, 2015 at 4:39pm PDT

Those ribs look dry

Labor Day bbq #labordaybbq #mikeshardorange #mikeshard #TagStaGram #love #friends #tagstagramApp #photooftheday #selfie #amazing #followme #follow4follow #like4like #look #instalike #igers #picoftheday #instadaily #instafollow #fun #iphoneonly #instagood #bestoftheday #instacool #instago #summer #follow #colorful #style #swag

A photo posted by New IG (@amberfmyers929) on Sep 7, 2015 at 3:17pm PDT

Here’s why you should never attempt a “BBQ hot dog” by putting brisket on top of it

Perhaps the purest #bbq ‘hotdog’ ever… Bbq brisket on a bbq half sweet potato, w/bbq smoked jalapeño (chipotle) sauce atop. #labordaybbq #homemade A photo posted by Anand K. (@anandk229) on Sep 6, 2015 at 6:10pm PDT

Right idea, very poor execution

Finally in the mood to bake! Cookie brownies 🍪😋 #labordaybbq #yummy A photo posted by JaNe 😎💁🏻👸🏻💚 (@bebejane2000) on Sep 6, 2015 at 1:18pm PDT

Is this cookout food or a level from the Sega Genesis version of Earthworm Jim?

Shredded Chipolte Beef for Enchiladas Suizas later 😍😍😍😍 @__ms_melly_mel__ #cantwait #labordaybbq #javs31stbday #nomnomnom A photo posted by @ladolcevita07 on Sep 5, 2015 at 6:45am PDT

Energy-stuffed dates: FOH

⭐️ENERGY STUFFED DATES (great for #LaborDayBBQ too) – for those with #nutallergies use SUNFLOWER BUTTER by @kalot or fresh made #Sunbutter.😋 👉🏻ALMONDs: 1 oz (28 grams, or small handful) serving of almonds contains (1): Fiber: 3.5 grams. Protein: 6 grams. Vitamin E: 37% of the RDA. Manganese: 32% of the RDA. Magnesium: 20% of the RDA. They also contain a decent amount of copper, vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and phosphorus 👉🏻Dates are a good source of various vitamins and minerals. Its a good source of energy, sugar and fiber. Essential minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium and zinc are found in dates. It also contains vitamins such as thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, vitamin A and vitamin K. 👉🏻Dates also help to relieve #constipation due to high fiber content and help aid in bone strength due to mineral content! #osteoporosis ⭐️Not to mention – they help people suffering from #anemia level out IRON in their bodies. ⭐️Can you say PERFECT snack?👍🏽 #fitvegans #rawvegan #vegan #paleo #vegansofig #whatveganseat #trainhard #plantbaseddiet #meatfreeathlete #lift #crossfit #eatforbeauty #dairyfree #meatfree #glutenfree #nongmo #vegetarian #bodybuilder #fruitarian #bestrong #weighttrain #weightlift #strongbody #weightlosstips A photo posted by Fit Vegans 🍎 (@fitvegans) on Sep 3, 2015 at 2:05pm PDT

Labor Day struggle plates