Celebrate Memorial Day with family, friends...and organic food

May 16, 12:16 PMOrganic Food ExaminerNatalie Rotunda

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If you’ve glanced at the calendar recently, you may be surprised to see that Memorial Day, the first holiday of summer, is just a week away! Your plans may include sticking closer to home this year, and celebrating the long weekend with family and friends with an outdoor, or indoor, picnic. Can I suggest that you also invite naturally-occurring organic good food to the celebration?

Consider making this get-together a potluck meal that fits the theme of few, or (bettah) no processed foods. When it's time to sit down at the picnic table, or wherever you like to sit, enjoy the camaraderie, linger over the meal you’re sharing. Take time to savor the food. Let yourself taste what good food is all about.

The best organic foods are those that are fresh and may take a little time to prepare. Here are some ideas to help you build a menu:

• Organic grassfed beef---from juicy hamburgers that don’t shrink as you grill them, to juicy steaks;
• Romaine lettuce salad filled with any or all of these: green and red onions, avocados, mangoes, dried cranberries, walnuts, cucumbers, tomatoes, radishes.
• Yukon gold potatoes, baked on the grill or in the oven
• Fresh broccoli and carrots, grilled or roasted in the oven.
• Deviled eggs made from free-range chickens
• For dessert: Organic ice cream topped with fresh berries

When the sun goes down (and maybe the temps with it), head inside to play board games (some of my favorites: Sorry!, Aggravation, Clue, Scattergories). Or, for those who don’t enjoy games, have an old movie handy that they can pop into the DVD to enjoy. Game-players and movie-watchers alike can snack on organic popcorn popped on the stovetop, or Newman’s Own microwave popcorn).

And don’t forget to celebrate our veterans who paid the ultimate price to guarantee our freedom.

On Monday, watch for another delicious, nutritious recipe provided by one of the chefs from Cancer Treatment Centers of America.