Making Picnics Healthy

When deciding the menu for a picnic, the name of the game is tasty. But, tasty doesn’t have to equate to unhealthy. A picnic menu can be just as healthy and simple as a meal you would serve at home.

Picnic appetizers keep guests from losing interest while they wait for the grill to heat up. Prepare or purchase a container of veggie dip. If you purchase the dip, buy the light version. When whipping up a dip, substitute regular ranch dressing with a ranch seasoning mix and a container of low fat sour cream. The taste is just as rich minus all of the extra calories.

To accompany your dip, consider a raw vegetable platter. Vegetables are less heavy than chips and they won’t negatively impact your waistline if you over indulge. Preparing the vegetables the night before gives you more time the day of the picnic. Vegetables can be sliced into decorative chips with a crinkle cutter for added flare.

If the kids must have salty snacks, opt for the baked variety. Most snack companies make a baked, reduced fat version of their popular snacks. More importantly, one hundred calorie snack bags will keep them from consuming too many of their favorite snacks.

Frozen burger patties don’t have to be diet busters. Choose from turkey burger patties or 98% lean hamburger. These alternatives are full of flavor and will benefit your family’s health. When adding condiments, add a generous slice of tomato, onion, and/or lettuce.

The more food items you can make ahead of time, the more calm the actual picnic will be. Chicken breast or seafood skewers can be purchased fresh directly from the meat department of the local grocer. Keep them on ice until ready to grill. A side dish of brown rice can be served with the kabobs for a complete meal.

Dessert at a picnic usually consists of cake or some other sweet confection. Fruit salad is a healthy alternative on dessert. A combination of sweet fruits topped with coconut pieces or served with a fruit dip satisfies the sugar craving. Try grilled fruits like pineapples or peaches for a tangy tasting dessert.

When it comes to drinks, stay with bottled water or juices. Sugar free flavor packets can be added to bottled water for a fruity drink if you don’t want to drink juice. If picnickers will be in the sun a lot, water offers better hydration than soda drinks.

A picnic doesn’t have to be a departure from a healthy way of eating. Healthier menu selections can be managed even on the grill. Pre-planning can keep the menu less filling not to mention easy and stress-free.

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