Did you know that July is National Picnic Month? National Hot Dog Month? National Pickle Month? National Ice Cream Month and National Blueberry Month? These summertime favorites might bring visions of high fat/salt/sugar indulgences, but for those who want health along with such treats, it sometimes requires bringing a whole food plant-based twist to have our health and our delicious picnics too. Let me give an example. Love the taste of traditional hot dogs but don’t want the health risks? Try a carrot dog. Find an appropriate-sized carrot and boil till soft, then grill and you’ve got a great substitute to wrap inside your whole-grain bun. Add some no-sugar-added pickle relish or pickles with your mustard and sugar-free ketchup and you’re all set. (There are several recipes out there with marinade, such as this one, but they taste fine just cooked and grilled without marinade.)