National Picnic Month: 8 Healthy Foods to Pack
| 2 min read
Picnics and warm weather go hand in hand, which is probably why July is National Picnic Month. If you haven’t packed a basket yet this summer, use this as a good excuse. While it’s easy to revert to packing picnic staples like fried chicken, sandwiches, chips and cookies, there are lots of healthier options too. These eight options are all easily transported for dining al fresco (but are also delicious if you’re dining at home!):
- Kabobs: Throw cooked meat and veggies onto a skewer and place them in a gallon-sized bag. Have your pick from produce like bell peppers, onion, mushrooms, summer squash and tomatoes and pick your favorite meat or protein (chicken, tofu, shrimp, etc.).
- Bean salad: Lettuce can get wilted outside, so make a salad without any! This one is full of garbanzo beans, tomatoes, cucumber and bell pepper and is finished off with feta cheese.
- Corn on the cob: Grill up this summer must-have, wrap each ear in aluminum foil, and pack them up. Corn can provide your family with fiber, vitamin C, magnesium and more!
- Veggies and dip: Pack your cooler with a variety of crisp, raw veggies like cucumbers, carrots and celery. Then pair them with a nutritious dip like hummus or low-fat yogurt.
- Fruit skewers: Add your kids’ favorite fruits (cantaloupe, watermelon or honeydew balls) to a straw. It’s more fun to nibble on them than traditional fruit salad.
- Cherries: Not only are they extremely easy to throw into a plastic bag, there are also compounds in tart cherries that may help you slim down.
- Watermelon: Made up of 92 percent water, this tasty fruit is sure to keep the group hydrated on a hot summer day.
- Infused water: Turn tap water into something more special by adding sliced cucumbers and strawberries to your pitcher.
For more tips on picnicking this summer, check out these other blogs:
Photo credit: alex lang
