Memorial Day is a day to honor all those that have served in the military. It is also a day when a lot of people will have family and friends over and grill out.
(This image is from MorgueFile.)
But, you can still be green while doing all of this. If you are going to visit a loved one’s grave, take real flowers. I know a lot of people tend to purchase plastic flowers because they last longer, but real flowers will naturally decompose, whereas plastic flowers will eventually have to be removed by the groundskeepers and who knows when they will decompose.
As for grilling, we have a gas grill, but if you have a charcoal grill, you might want to consider natural, hardwood charcoal over the regular briquettes. If you are purchasing a grill for this holiday, I strongly suggest a gas grill. The American Cancer Society (ACS) has said that when meat fat drops on the charcoal briquettes, it causes PAHs and HCAs to rise with the smoke and get into your food. Your food also gets more HCAs in it the longer you cook it, so try to avoid burning the meat. Exposure to PAHs and HCAs in your diet can cause an increase in your risk for contracting pancreatic, colorectal, and breast cancer. You can also protect your meat somewhat by coating it with marinade, oil, or barbecue sauce before hand and while cooking.
Hot dogs, hamburgers, and chips seem to be the usual Memorial Day fare, but what if you decided to go healthy this year? To me, almost anything tastes better on the grill. Consider cooking chicken or switching to turkey burgers. And I love veggies on the grill. One of my favorite things to do is skewer fresh asparagus, brush it lightly with olive oil, sprinkle a little salt on it and grill it. It comes out so tender and guess what – it’s good for you! Is there anything better than healthy food that tastes great too?
As for the chips, consider replacing them with a salad made with market-fresh produce. And don’t forget the sunscreen. If it’s hot there like it is here, you don’t want to burn.
Finally, if the weather is nice and you have access to a pool – use it. Exercise is great for your health and will help you burn off any extra calories you consumed today. If you don’t have access to a pool, consider starting up some type of game (basketball, softball, badminton, etc.).