According to a Numerator survey from last year (I doubt much has changed), about 52% of Americans grill or barbecue over Memorial Day weekend. The top grilled items include steak (58%), hamburgers (55%), chicken (42%), and sausages or hot dogs (35%). It’s a meat lover’s paradise, where the only thing rarer than a well-done steak is a vegetarian option.

And no picnic is complete without a side of something smothered in mayonnaise. Potato salad reigns supreme, with coleslaw and baked beans not far behind as your favorite side dishes – with many of you having it all at the same time. It’s as if the collective goal is to see how many creamy, beige dishes can coexist on a single paper plate.

Dessert brings a splash of color to the otherwise monochromatic meal for those who aren’t stuffed from having three or four hot dogs (or more). Watermelon slices offer a refreshing respite, while patriotic-themed desserts like no-bake cheesecake flag cakes and red, white, and blueberry fruit salads add a festive flair. Are you getting hungry yet??

To wash it all down, beer remains the alcoholic beverage of choice, followed by wine, spirits or spirit- based drinks and hard seltzers or canned cocktails. Sweet Baby Ray’s tops the list of barbecue sauces (I concur!), proving that when it comes to condiments, Americans like it sweet and sticky.

And in the weeks before Memorial Day, Americans do what they do best: panic-shop like their backyard is being judged by the Founding Fathers. Top items purchased include bug repellent, pool gear, grills, canopies and shelters, sunscreen and patio chairs.

So grab a burger, raise a cold one, do what you can to keep the bugs away, and salute the stars and stripes – because in the land of the free, we honor our heroes with full hearts, full plates, and a deep appreciation for the freedoms they fought to protect. Happy Memorial Day.