Here are 10 reasons for barbecuing veggie burgers and hot dogs this Independence Day rather than ground-up animal body parts:

• Focusing on traffic and fireworks safety rather than food safety
• Giving your eyes a break from reading government food warning labels
• Not sweating nasty E. coli and salmonella bugs if the food temperature is too low
• Not sweating cancer-causing compounds if the barbecue temperature is too high
• Not wondering about what’s really in that burger or hot dog you’re chewing
• Giving your body a holiday from saturated fat, cholesterol and hormones
• Not sweating the animal cruelty and environmental devastation guilt trips
• Not having to explain to your kids why we feed Rex and eat Babe
• Distinguishing your Independence Day menu from your friends’ and neighbors’
• Celebrating a day of independence from the meat industry