Picnic season is well and truly upon us, so today I would like to tell you how to make the most of your outdoor meals in the park! Picnics are a fun way to meet up with friends or take the kids out for a few hours. However, picnic food almost always consists of just sandwiches and pastries, in this blog I’d like to give you a few ideas on how to go all out with your very own nutritious picnic.
The perfect picnic is always made up of various dishes so here are a few different recipe ideas for your next picnic:
Hummus
Hummus is great for a picnic as it adds some flavour to so many other dishes, you spread it on some bread, eat it with salad or have it as part of a mezze board. When it comes to hummus I would always recommend making your own and if you would like to give it a go, check out my Hummus recipe or Beetroot Hummus recipe. Also, you can introduce a little more flavour to your hummus; if you like a bit of spice then add some chilli or maybe blend some fresh herbs into yours. If you’re wondering what to eat it with, bring a few carrot and celery sticks along to the picnic and use them for dipping into the hummus.
A Salad
A salad is key to any summer lunch, it’s light, refreshing and when made right, delicious. The good thing about salads is you can keep it as easy as you like. For example, a simple rocket and spinach salad topped with olive oil, lemon juice, balsamic and parmesan makes for a tasty accompaniment to a meal. Alternatively, have something a little bit more exciting by making your own dressing and adding some nuts and seeds to your salad!
Falafel
Falafels are perfect for picnics; you can make them the day before or in the morning and then bring them along with you. These crunchy bites of goodness pack a great flavour and if you would like to learn how to make them, click here for my Falafel recipe. You can put falafels in a wrap, a salad or just eat them on their own!
Avocado Potato Salad
The potato salad is a classic British buffet food, simple to make and always popular with any crowd. However, if you’re looking for something slightly more adventurous then give my Avocado Potato Salad a go. This take on the classic adds a little more flavour and nutritional goodness into the mix. Furthermore, the use of avocado in the place of cream, yogurt or mayonnaise makes this dish healthier and more refreshing than a traditional potato salad.
Something Sweet
A picnic wouldn’t be a picnic without a little something sweet for desert; you wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids! That said, sweet doesn’t have to mean unhealthy and I always try to convince my clients that they can make their own treats, using healthy and natural ingredients. Here are a few recipe ideas which you could take along to a picnic:
I hope you all enjoy your picnics and making a few of my recipes. I’d love to hear how you find the recipes and don’t hesitate to get in touch via social media! If you would like some more advice on how to lead a more nutritionally healthy lifestyle then book yourself in for a free 30 minute discovery call today.