By Heather Topham Wood
Eliminate the Bad Picnic Foods
When you're trying to pick healthy foods for a picnic, you need to first get rid of items that are unhealthy. Many picnic foods have high fat and sugar contents, which make them dangerous for people trying to eat better. To start, don't bring anything containing mayonnaise. Even low-fat versions of mayonnaise contain a lot of fat so skip the potato, tuna or egg salads. Other picnic foods with a high-fat content include hamburgers, fried chicken, ribs and hot dogs. You'll also want to eliminate foods containing a lot of sugar, like soda, cakes, cookies and brownies.
Celebrate the Growing Season
To serve healthy foods for a picnic, you should base your selections around nature's bounty. Go to the farmer's market or grocery store and pick up a large selection of fresh fruits. Delicious summer fruits include watermelon, blueberries, cantaloupe, strawberries, mango and pineapple. Cut up the fruit and mix it together to create a delicious fruit salad. You can offer the fruit as an appetizer or a dessert option. You should make a traditional salad as well and bring along a light or fat-free dressing for seasoning. Your veggie choices may consist of lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli, corn and carrots. If you're planning to grill for your picnic, you can throw zucchini, onions and peppers on the grill to top off your salad.
Love the Lean Meats
Instead of fatty burgers and hot dogs, stick to lean protein options for your healthy foods picnic. Switch to turkey or veggie burgers on the grill. You can also grill chicken and serve it on skewers along with grilled veggies, like tomatoes and onions. If you're making sandwiches for the picnic, serve turkey and roasted chicken sandwiches. Skip the cheese and leave off the condiments. You should also consider the type of breads you serve at the picnic. Replace traditional buns with whole-grain alternatives.
Drink it Up
If you're going to make a healthier picnic, switch your beverage choices as well. Stay away from sugary sodas, fruit juices and high-calorie alcoholic beverages, which all contain many empty calories. Prepare homemade iced tea and set out diet soda options for your guests. You should also make ice water readily available. If you want to serve your guests alcohol, choose wine or light beer.
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About this Author
Heather Topham Wood has written for several different Internet and print publications and is the author of a series of articles focused on senior health concerns. She pursues an active lifestyle through running, biking and skiing.
