How To Have An Eco-Friendly Backyard Barbecue

Before your Independence Day cookout, do the planet a favor by picking up the best alfresco eating staples. Here with ways to throw a backyard bash that won't be a blow to the environment is Sharon Liao from Shape Magazine. Some of the eco-friendly items include:

Flame Disk ($5; flamedisk.com)
This eco-friendly alternative to charcoal produces the same great taste as traditional grills, with 99 percent less carbon monoxide emissions.

Yellow + Blue Wine ($12; ybwines.com)
Produced from organically grown grapes, and packaged in recycled paper, this "green" wine is better for you, as well as the planet.

Reynold's Recycled Tin Foil (www.reynoldsrecycled.com)
As more and more Americans look for simple ways to become more environmentally friendly, the kitchen truly is the easiest place to start. With that in mind, Reynolds has introduced Reynolds Wrap® Foil from 100% Recycled Aluminum - a versatile and economical tool to get the job done in the kitchen, and perfect for people looking for simple ways to show they care about the environment.

Earth Shell Plates ($3; earthshell.com)
Made from potato and corn starches, limestone and water, these biodegradable plates are the perfect swap for your paper plates.

Big Green Cookbook ($24.95; biggreencookbook.com)
Culinary novices and expert cooks alike will enjoy this green cookbook. Containing simple, practical and cost efficient recipes, it's never been simpler to maximize flavor while minimizing your environmental impact.

Grill Daddy ($19.95; grilldaddy.net)
After enjoying your low imprint barbeque, clean up with this handy tool. It's easy to use, releasing a stream of water as you brush away baked-on food & grease.

For more information, grab a copy of the latest issue of Shape Magazine on newsstands now or visit www.shape.com.