Memorial Day often marks the unofficial start of summer fun! With school winding down, warmer weather arriving, and a long weekend to enjoy, many families gather for quality time, often around delicious food sizzling on the grill! Want to make these moments even better while nourishing your loved ones and supporting our local farmers right here in Henderson County? The answer is simple: Buy local!

Where do you even start when looking to buy local meat? MeatSuite.com is a resource for North Carolinians to find local farmers who sell meat in bulk. Buying bulk meat is a great way to save money, support local farmers and get high quality meat. To learn more about the daunting process of purchasing meat in bulk, check out this article to determine how much meat is right for your family and safe storage.

Now that you know where to buy local meat, what should you prepare for your Memorial Day meal? Heavy foods like mayonnaise-based salads and sweets often accompany hamburgers and hot dogs. While tasty and traditional, these foods aren't the best option.

USDA Snap-Ed Connection lays out an entire meal plan, recipe by recipe, for Memorial Day. You can read through their whole holiday plan here.

Here are a few ideas for healthy sides:

Bugs on a Log

Italian Pasta Salad

Baked Beans

Fresh Fruit with Cinnamon Yogurt Dip