For many, Labor Day means an extra day off of work. For me, Labor Day signifies the closing of summer. It also presents a great opportunity to fire up the grill before the weather starts to change and enjoy a picnic with my family and friends. My family celebrates three birthdays around Labor Day so we always make it a point to use our day off to celebrate the holiday and birthdays with a picnic. Everyone brings a dish to pass and while we all spoon heaps of food onto our plates we celebrate the lives of three very special people.

Labor Day is fast approaching signifying the official end of summer vacation. Whoever deemed the summer months as a “vacation” sure was using the term loosely. Down here in the south last ditch efforts for summer fun are in play. This means BBQ’s on every corner, water sports, and the typical consumption and enjoyment of spirits.

Let me be the first and quite possibly the only person to wish you a merry “More Herbs, Less Salt Day.” This admittedly obscure holiday, celebrated by a sprinkling of sodium-shirkers around the country every August 29th, deserves much more fanfare from foodies and families everywhere. Why? Because overdoing it on salt can have negative consequences; too much salt can contribute to high blood pressure which, in turn, can raise the chances of heart disease or a stroke later in life. But, don’t halt all the salt, just most of it.