New Year, Healthier You: Enjoy Outdoor Living Year-Round

If the chilly weather has started to get on your nerves and cabin-fever is making you go a little stir-crazy at home, maybe it’s time to just get out there and enjoy yourself again. Maybe even fire up the grill and add some sizzle to your season!

Wait… what? Hold up. It’s not exactly balmy summer temps out there right now. Right? How can we enjoy our outdoor living environment at a time like this?!

Well, when it comes to outdoor enjoyment this time of year, it’s best to embrace a can-do attitude. And secondly… you should get an assist from good ol’ Kenmore ingenuity! Read on…

It’s Important to Get Out There!

Enjoying some outdoor living right now is more than just a fun idea. Numerous studies have shown that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a very real thing, and it can lead to serious conditions such as depression, sleep disorders, and behavioral changes. You and your family can help ward off some of the problems associated with the winter season by getting yourselves out in the fresh air and enjoying the daylight hours.

But fighting off SAD is just the beginning. Outdoor activities in the colder months can help you boost your mood and your immunity from common diseases. And exposure to sunlight is essential for your body to produce Vitamin D. So, dress yourself in layers, bundle up if necessary, put on a cute beanie hat… and go enjoy the great outdoors!

All-Season Enjoyment is Easier Than You Think

One of the best and easiest ways to enjoy outdoor living throughout the year is by heating your patio, porch or deck space with a supplemental radiant heating unit. One or more of these heaters can safely and effectively warm up your outdoor fun zone, so you and your family can get out there and stay comfortable while enjoying yourselves or entertaining friends and neighbors.

Kenmore’s 1500-watt heater can be safely used in outdoor, covered, or indoor areas. Each comes with a sturdy tripod stand and wall-mounting hardware, so you can position them anywhere you like to provide extra warmth.

Its radiant electric heat element is efficient, safe and environmentally friendly to use and provides your choice of three heating levels. There’s no need to worry about gas or open flames. Plus, there’s built-in protection with an automatic shut-off feature if the unit is tipped over accidentally.

One-touch controls make it easy to adjust the power settings or to engage the built-in timer. And a remote control allow you to adjust the temperature from across the room.

While You’re Out There, Fire Up the Grill!

If you’re going to make a point of getting out in the fresh air and enjoying your outdoor living space, it stands to reason that you’ll want to flame-broil some delicious food while you’re at it. Sound good to you?

Well, hold on for a moment or two. It’s a good idea to give your grill the once-over before you fire it up for the first time in months.

• Scrape out any congealed grease and ash from the bottom of the firebox and the grease-trap below it.
• Clean off any accumulated debris, cobwebs, leaves, etc. from the grill and its surroundings.
• Make sure you have sufficient fuel in your tank (or charcoal, if you’re an old-school griller).
• Make sure the ignition system is in good working order.
• Use a stiff wire brush to scrub the grill gates clean. Note: this is actually easier to do when the grates are warm, so wait until after you’ve tested the ignition.

If you find that your grill isn’t quite up to the task anymore, no worries! Even in the coldest weeks and months of the year, a wide variety of Kenmore grills are available ready to order from the retailers of your choice!

Who Wants a Burger?

Now that your outdoor living zone is warm and your grill is prepped and ready to fire up, what better way to enjoy the great outdoors than with some home-style burger magic!

Every grill-master has their own special secret for creating can’t-miss burgers. But if you’d like to try an interesting twist or two on the traditional burger, we have a few ideas for you…

Mediterranean Burgers with Roasted Red Pepper Mayo

Portobello Mushroom Burgers

And a little extra touch of yum…

Beyond Burgers: 7 Grill Desserts

Get Set with the Right Accessories

The perfect burger doesn’t just happen by accident. And if you’re planning on making more than one burger at a time, consider getting Kenmore’s non-stick dual burger press. Its two-in-one design with built-in handle makes two patties at once so you can quickly prepare enough burgers for any size gathering. Simply add ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork, press into patties, and voila! Perfect burgers every time!

Another must-have for smart grilling is the Kenmore Instant Read digital grill thermometer. It’s super-easy to use, and gives you an accurate measure of the internal temperature of grilled meats, fish and poultry in an easy-to-read LCD display.

Kenmore offers a full selection of top-quality grill accessories that can help elevate your outdoor cooking game, no matter what your experience and skill level may be. And they make terrific gifts, too!

Every Season Counts

The best reason of all to get out there… is because you can! Make every season count. Because aside from all the fresh air, sunshine and their built-in health benefits, and aside from all the entertaining and culinary opportunities, there is the chance for you and your family to simply get the most out of life. There are 365 days in a year (actually, it’s 366 this year!), and you’re only cheating yourself if you spend 150 of them inside!