Healthy Picnic Tips

Posted by Mindy on July 29th, 2009 at 04:34pm

Summer is beginning to wind down, which means beautiful sunny days perfect for picnics will soon be few and far between. Packing up a picnic and taking it to a park or beach with a friend or loved one is a great way to enjoy a healthy meal. Just planning a picnic, which will likely involve some walking or outdoor activity, is an improvement on the usual quick lunch at your desk or in front of the TV. And because you have to pack everything ahead of time, you can exercise more portion control and prevent yourself from fridge snacking once your plate is clean. Here are a few quick tips, followed by some of our healthy picnic-friendly recipes, to help keep your outdoor meal delicious and safe.

• Decide how much you want to bring and portion out your food ahead of time. That way you won’t have to worry about storing or chilling leftovers (or attracting bugs).
• When packing perishable food, be sure to pack directly into a cooler that is chilled to about 40 degrees F. Use square and rectangular tupperware (instead of round) to fit more items in your cooler.
• If you are driving to your destination, keep the cooler in the air-conditioned car, rather than the warm trunk. Be sure to keep the cooler in the shade once you arrive and avoid opening and closing the lid constantly.

Summer Picnic Recipes

All-Vegetable Pasta Salad

Strawberry Spinach Salad

Cucumber Sandwiches

Applesauce and Oatmeal Cookies

Iced Rhubarb Tea

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Tags: healthy eating, Healthy Recipes, picnic recipes, summer recipes

Under Healthy Recipes+ healthy eating Tags: healthy eating, Healthy Recipes, picnic recipes, summer recipes