How To Have a Healthier Memorial Day

   Memorial Day is just around the corner, and like many of you I am looking forward to my extended weekend! Memorial Day is a time to reflect on the sacrifices of our brothers, sisters, and neighbors. It is also a time to gather family and friends near the most accessible body of water and have one heck of a cook out! For most Americans this means hamburgers and hotdogs, chips and ranch dip, and a whole lot of soda or beer! I am going to offer a few tips so you can toss these old standbys and have a more healthful Memorial Day! :)

Appetizers
Snacks are essential to any type of outdoor activity. Lots of people will stick with the old Fritos/bean dip, Lays/french onion dip, tortilla chip/queso route. Why not do something different for a change? Try a roasted red pepper hummus with some warm, soft pita bread. Toss some pico de gallo and a couple of avocados with a squirt of lime for a fresh homemade guacamole, served with veggie sticks! Still hankering for something salty? Try kale chips!

For the Grill
There are lots of options when it comes to grilling that don't always involve tubed meat. Try some veggie shish-kebabs or add a lean, organic protein if you prefer! Grilled corn, portabellos, and "baked" potatoes are always delicious and wholesome choices as well. Something I've been aching to try, grilled pizza!

Beverages
Most people flock to fizzy and sugary beverages to quench their thirst. The actual fact is that these drinks are not really satisfying that thirst and creating more dehydration. The only way to beat dehydration (which is very important when you are out in the sun all day!) is to drink water! Don't like water? Try adding lemon or lime, berries and other fruits, herbs, and various other goodies to spruce it up! Cucumber lime mint water sounds so much more appetizing than just water, don't you think?

   There are so many options when trying to cut back on the processed, fatty foods of our culture. Keep an open mind and eat things that have life force! I can guarantee you, you will enjoy that day at the lake so much more! Not to mention your swim suit will look better! ;)

Stay clean and have a safe, healthful holiday weekend!

Memorial Day

The Memorial Day weekend is coming up and for most people, that means barbecuing, road trips, and picnics but do you know what Memorial Day REALLY means or where it came from?

Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day" as a way to memorialize those who have died in our nation's service. Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan. It was first observed on May 30th, 1868 when flowers were left at the gravesites of Confederate and Union soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. The National Holiday Act of 1971 made Memorial Day into a federally observed holiday that is always on the last Monday in May. In 1915, Moina Michael was inspired by the poem "In Flanders Fields" and conceived the idea of wearing a red poppy in memorial to those that have died while serving our nation in times of war. A few years later, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) became the first veteran's organization to sell the poppies nationally in their "Buddy Poppy" program. Each poppy sold was made by a disabled veteran.

Today, most people view Memorial Day as another day off but perhaps we should all give thanks to those that have given their lives in order for us to have that day off. Paying tribute to the fallen soldiers can be as simple as taking a personal moment of silence as a display appreciation or choosing a more visible way of commemorating by placing flags at gravesites, marching in or attending Memorial Day parades, dedicating memorials, sending care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan or wearing Buddy Poppies. As our older war veterans disappear, there will be fewer people to carry that torch of remembrance. It's up to us to keep their memories alive and pass on the importance of this holiday to younger generations.

Until next time, keep it clean.