Guess what? The 4th of July is Monday.

You may have stocked up on bottle rockets and Roman candles, shopped for burgers, bratwursts, and hot dogs, and know that your village’s fireworks show starts at 9pm. But…are you prepared for your 4th of July parade? 

If not, this is an oh so timely blog post. If you have, 1) good for you, and 2) you may learn something new. 

Read on, friends. 

Stake Your Claim

This is waaaay less dramatic than it sounds. 

However, if you want a good spot (or any) from where to watch the parade, lay down some chairs as early as you can. Find out what the rules are from your village, town, city, or fiefdom around that. Oh, and grab some real estate in the shade. Your skin will thank you. 

Speaking of Chairs…

You know what you deserve? 

A comfortable, portable lawn chair. Sure, you’ve got some hanging in your garage that are stained with melted marshmallow, but that will no longer do. Buy a new set that is poised to absorb your parade sweat. 

Also, bring a blanket or two for the kids because why should they have the privilege of sitting in your new chairs? 

Sunscreen (Gobs) & Hats

This is for the kids, because unless they’re unicorns, they’re not going to remind you to lather them up and cover their heads. 

The average 4th of July temperature is a low of hot and a high of unforgiving. Kids don’t worry about this stuff because they’re kids, but it’s in everyone’s best interest to apply sunscreen and have them wear their favorite team hat before leaving the house. 

Oh, and bring extra sunscreen with you. 

Bring Water

Make like a camel and carry a lot of water. 

And I’m not talking about the lousy one-hump dromedary camel, but the two-humped bactrians, who scoff at their ill-prepared, inferior counterparts as though they’re airplanes with only one engine. 

The point is to take the number of water bottles you’re planning on bringing and multiply by two. Dehydration is no joke, and if you have leftovers, there’s still a lot of summer left to consume them.  

Have Snacks Handy

4th of July parades have become sort of a preamble to Halloween. 

People dress up in costumes and they launch candy from their floats. This is enough “nourishment” to satiate your kids, but what about you? 

It’s a good idea to pack some fruit, energy bars, nuts, what have you in a cooler or a bag with a liner. Whatever you do, don’t put any food in your pocket because it will melt like it was never a solid. 

🚨SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT🚨

It’s about time this got its own section. 

If ever there was a product more suited for a blog post, it’s our Summer Fun Gift Basket. A seasonal hit, this one includes a popsicle maker, Copco insulated cup, Hawaiian pasta salad, emoji lemonade, and gummy bears. 

Your 4th of July parade just got a whole lot better. 

Enjoy the holiday weekend! 

About BasketWorks

BasketWorks/79Gifts is a woman owned gift basket company, located in the north suburbs of Chicago (specifically Northbrook, IL) since 1997. We are proud to offer a variety of gifts and gift baskets appropriate for all occasions. Each of our packages is built to order, allowing for customization at no additional cost to our clients. Contact us today!

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One of the modern culinary marvels is the ability to take something unhealthy and make it healthy. I see you cauliflower steak, meatless chorizo sausage, and dark chocolate. 

Enter popcorn. It’s no secret that there are healthier versions of popcorn in your supermarket aisles, but we look at the puffy bags and think, “Okay, these aren’t that bad for you.” 

The thing about popcorn is that, prepared and consumed the right way, it can be good for you. 

Let’s explore the health benefits of popcorn and the healthiest ways to enjoy the snack.

1. It Can Aid in Weight Loss

A cup of regular air-popped popcorn contains 30 calories and is highly satiating. 

The whole grain derivative is also rich in folate, Vitamin B, and fiber, improving general body metabolism and essential for weight loss.

Who knew?

However, you can undo the benefits of popcorn by adding decadent ingredients. Nix that. Instead, try healthier additives like cayenne pepper, onion powder, and cinnamon if you want some extra taste. 

2. It Has the Potential to Keep Blood Sugar Levels in Check

Popcorn has fiber that controls insulin release and management, regulating blood sugar levels. 

High fiber content lowers blood sugar, hence healthier living. Popcorn is even a recommended food for people who have diabetes. Don’t believe me? The American Dietetic Association defines 15 g of carbohydrates as the required amount for managing diabetes. 15g is equal to 3 cups of air-popped popcorn.

3. Minimizes Effects of Aging

I’m not going to claim that popcorn defies the unfortunate gravitational pull of our aging bodies. 

But popcorn does contain our favorite compound that makes frequent cameo appearances on this blog. When I say ANTI, you say OXIDANT. ANTI! 

Popcorn has polyphenols, which are antioxidants that may prevent sun-induced skin damage. Also, the same polyphenols fight a wide range of inflammation in your body, preventing joint pain. 

A regular serving of popcorn, about 3 cups, contains tons of beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin that can boost your vision. That doesn’t mean you can achieve satellite-grade vision when snacking on bowls of popcorn, but it can help.

4. May Reduce Risk of Heart Disease

The fiber in popcorn is known to reduce levels of cholesterol in your body. Eating a diet rich in whole grains reduces your chances of developing heart disease. Popcorn is a whole grain since it has bran, endosome, and germ. That sounds like a law firm. 

Also, the antioxidants fight free radicals, which cause cardiovascular complications. 

5. Improves Digestive Health

Consumption of popcorn adds more dietary fiber to your body, which can improve gut health. There is limited research on how popcorn relieves constipation, but the results are evidence that it may help to incorporate more popcorn into your diet.

Your movie snack buddy has many health benefits, but the line between healthy popcorn and a dietary horror is thin. Once you glop on indulgent toppings, all bets are off. Eat responsibly.

That’s all. Thank you for reading. 

As if! 

We saved the best for last: 🚨SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT🚨 Check out our Family Movie Night gift basket with not just one type of popcorn, but three…and other goodies, too. 

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