Healthy Picnics

Warm weather is here and with it the urge to pack a picnic basket. The problem is some  picnic foods can be bad for you ,laden with fat, sugar and salt. The best idea is create a healthy outdoor meal that's good for you as well as being tasty .It;s pretty simple with good results.

Sandwiches have always been a picnic staple. They re easy to make and easy to pack. However most people load them up with all sorts of bad ingredients, from the bread to the condiments. Start with whole wheat or any of the grained breads. They're just as tasty as the white and better for you. Most people usually like ham or bologna as a filling. Rethink your sandwich with leftover chicken or turkey. Even left over roast beef can be a tad healthier than any processed cold cuts. Mustard is one of the best and healthiest spreads. If it;s a bit too strong then think a lower calorie mayonnaise, perhaps mixed with cumin or rosemary. Another idea is try  drizzling olive oil on your sandwiches especially if you're using a whole wheat baguette as a base.

What makes good picnic? Sides. As fun as they are on any picnic , ditch the chips. Sub in homemade kale chips or try baked potato chips like Pringles.Another fun crunchy to bring along is sliced pickles or even gherkins. Fresh veggies such as grape tomatoes, slicked cukes and carrots are another good nibble or side . Dip them in a mix of plain Greek yogurt and your choice of spices.If you still want to bring salads, then make them healthier. Use whole wheat macaroni for your pasta salads and sub in olive oil and lemon for mayo. Add herbs and scallions to give it some zing and zest. Carrot salad, that picnic staple, can be made healthy too, with adding a simple vinaigrette and sliced onions and peppers.

A healthy picnic is easy to create.Try making one the next time the outdoor calls to you. It's a great way of having good for you food while having fun.