9 Healthy Ideas for Memorial Day Weekend

05.19.2024 | 4 min read

Memorial Day weekend is upon us – a sure sign that summer is finally here. There are many festivities around the state that mark this special weekend and many of us have our own traditions. Whatever activity you choose during the long weekend, there are ways you can adjust your plans to include fun and healthy choices.

Visit Your Local Farm or Orchard

Have the kids pick their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Making healthy meals with the produce you’ve discovered can be a fun family activity.

Look into your local farm market or orchard to see if there is a playground or other kid-friendly area. That way, you can make a day out of it: pack a lunch and have a picnic. Check out some of the best of the hundreds of farmers' markets in Michigan.

Go Camping

If you don’t feel like traveling too far, find a local campground. If there isn’t a campground available or you’d prefer to stay in your neck of the woods, just camp in your backyard. Build a fire if the weather is cool and bundle up. Don’t let the Michigan weather deter you and your family from having a great time together.

Have a Beach Day

If the weather is nice (crossing fingers), pack up the beach gear and head to the water. The kids will expend lots of energy running around in the sand. They’ll have a blast, even if it’s just a little too chilly to swim. Bring beach balls and other fun stuff.

Also, packing a cooler with healthy snacks and water is perfect for days like this. Don’t forget the sunscreen – even if it is cloudy. The sun is still behind the clouds and can cause a burn.

Hometown Activities

Check out what your town has planned for the weekend. Most cities have a parade or something else fun going on. Check the Pure Michigan website to find out what’s going on in your town.

Try a New Trail

Whether you like to hike or bike, find a trail and get going. This is a great way to introduce a new activity to your family that may spark interest for years to come. If you are already an avid hiker or biker, check out a trail that you haven’t traveled before.

Here are some safety tips as well as trails in Michigan (and nationwide).

Explore a Different Town

Get on the road and go to a neighboring city to see what activities are around. There may be a historical site, a kid-friendly museum, a local store or a library that you didn’t know about.

In Case of Bad Weather

Here are some ideas in case the rain or snow comes down. Who knows – we are in Michigan, after all.

Have a picnic in your living room. Spread a blanket out and have the kids help make sandwiches or whatever your family chooses to eat.
Have the kids put on a talent show for the family. It could be a music show, a play, reading their favorite poem or book, or even a dance recital. This will keep them entertained and moving for a while and give the family a great memory.
Camp indoors. Spread sleeping bags, pillows and blankets in the living room. Make popcorn and S’mores in the microwave (use low-fat graham crackers and only one chocolate square). Put on your favorite movie or TV show, sit back, and have a great evening.

Road Trip

If you are planning on traveling this weekend, pack a cooler of low-fat, healthy snacks and water for the whole family to munch on. This will help with the temptation of driving through for fast food or vending machines. Here are some ideas for what to pack in your cooler when traveling:

Low-fat string cheese and low-fat wheat crackers
Fruit in snack size baggies
Yogurt
Veggies, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, radishes, celery, etc. Choose your favorite low-fat dip to accompany these veggies
Deli meat
Sandwiches prepared ahead of time
Mixed nuts (watch your serving size)
Popcorn (make a few bags of low-fat popcorn and put them in baggies)
Low-fat granola bars

A Carnival, Festival or Fair

There are lots of fairs, carnivals and festivals scheduled this weekend. If you have attended any in the past, you know the food may not be the healthiest for you. Here are some ways to be health conscious at summer events.

Remember to thank our service men and women this weekend and reflect on those who have died serving for our country. What is your Memorial Day weekend tradition?