It’s a Beautiful Day for a Picnic!

Happy Picnic Day! It’s a beautiful sunny day, the birds are chirping and it seems like a shame not to be outside on such a lovely day. You just invited your friends and family to join you for a picnic because let’s face it, when was the last time you enjoyed a picnic? Now it’s time to pack for the picnic. What should you bring?

Sandwiches are great for picnics. Choose hardy breads like whole-wheat baguettes because they do not get soggy in coolers like sliced bread often does. Lettuce can get soggy too, so if you want to add crunch to your sandwich, try sliced apples. If fruit on your sandwich is not for you, use spinach instead of iceberg lettuce for added nutrients such as iron. Pair your sandwich with a side of bean and corn salad.

Potato and pasta salads are common picnic sides. Use low-fat mayonnaise for the potato salad. For pasta salads, whole-wheat pasta and vinaigrette or Italian dressings are healthier ingredient options. Make sure you bring on the veggies! Chopped onions, peppers and celery are classic side salad veggies and olives add the perfect touch to pasta salads.

Leave the greasy chips and cookies at home. Healthy snack options include cheese and whole wheat crackers, sliced peppers with hummus, trail mix with raisins, nuts, and dried fruit (dark chocolate pieces are great in trail mix but may melt during a picnic), celery with reduced fat peanut butter and more! Fruit salads make the perfect picnic dessert.

Besides eating, what can you do on a picnic? Run around and have fun! Play Frisbee, catch, badminton and all the sports you enjoy. If games and sports aren’t for you, go for a walk.

I hope you have a wonderful time on your picnic and let me know how it went. Don’t forget to pack sunscreen, bug spray and a blanket!