Labor Day is a day full of friends, good food, and spending time outside, but there are some things you need to keep in mind. 

Caitlin Mellendorf, Nutrition and Wellness Educator for the U of I Extension serving DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt Counties, explains that properly separating, chilling, cooking, and cleaning your food is the key to having a great weekend. 

Mellendorf notes as we enter the fall season, many recipes can be made with seasonal foods like different kinds of lettuce, apples and pears, and root vegetables. 

Deer hunting season is almost upon us, and Mellendorf says venison is a great substitute for beef, as long as it's prepared correctly. Deer are wild which means they are more likely to have parasites and harmful bacteria than cows. 

Mellendorf notes that the extension has a number of free classes coming up this week, and the final day to register for them is today, August 30th. 

You can find out more about these classes, and all the other topics covered by Caitlin, at extension.illinois.edu/dmp