When I think of warm weather, I think of dining al fresco. Our meals have become less romantic with two young children, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try!
I used to do fun picnics with wine and cheese in Central Park while I was in residency in New York. These days, I try to combine healthy options with things I think my kids will eat. I still sneak a few charcuterie and cheese picnics here and there, but they are not the norm.
I love picnics in warm weather because children are ALWAYS excited about them. Next time your kids are being a pain while you are trying to set up lunch or dinner, tell them that you are having a picnic. If your kids are like mine, they will be so excited, they may calm down a bit! I get them to help by giving them tasks to do and they love that. I especially like telling them to pic their plates, cups, and spoons since that can take a while.
For this post, I wanted to focus a little more on healthy options for adults. I wrote about healthy snacks for kids a few posts ago and I think those translate well for picnics.
Quick refresher of kid options (I use whole wheat bread for all the sandwiches):
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Hummus sandwiches
- Any sliced deli meat and cheese sandwich your child will eat
- Sliced fruits and veggies
- Whole grain Goldfish, Pirate’s Booty, pretzels, veggie sticks
- Popsicles for dessert
Adult options:
- Hummus wraps – I too love hummus! You can take a whole wheat wrap and stuff it with hummus and chopped veggies or for even more protein, mix up left over rotisserie chicken, hummus, chopped up tomatoes, and cucumber
- Healthy egg salad – using avocado instead of mayo is an amazing substitution. Use 3-4 eggs per half of a large avocado, add lemon and salt, and spread it on your favorite whole wheat bread or use whole wheat wraps
- Cold pasta salad – mix cooked, cold whole wheat penne (can do whole wheat rotini if you find it!), grape tomatoes, pine nuts, olive oil, and feta cheese or you can use pesto, mozzarella balls, and grape tomatoes instead
- Curry chicken salad – I always use left over rotisserie chicken for this. Mix the shredded chicken with a small amount of mayo (can use plain Greek yogurt instead), dried cranberries, a tablespoon of curry powder, and if you like a little crunch, some chopped up celery. I personally like to keep it simple with the cranberries and curry only. I prefer to eat it with a whole wheat pita but a wrap works well too
- Fruit salad with Cool Whip or frozen yogurt for dessert
Whether you are trying to have fun with your kids or have a romantic get away with a partner or even a fun meal with friends, there are lots of healthy and quick options for picnics.
Picnics can be done in your backyard, beach, parks, or side yards! Take advantage of the weather and get picnicking!