- Think ahead for your picnic and choose the most nutritious foods. There are plenty of choices which will keep your menu lower in fat and calories
- Serve your flourishing outdoor appetite with fresh vegetables, lean meats, and luscious fruits. Sugar free lemonade and teas are great thirst quenchers
- Salads smartly prepared with vinaigrette dressings or lower fat mayonnaise will supply you with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and tasty side dishes
- Grill any meat of your choosing. Just be sure they are lean and lower in fat
- Don’t forget the melon. Watermelon, cantaloupe, or honeydew are fruits you will want to include in your picnic
With a little thought and culinary creativity, composing picnic menus which are nutritious and fit the occasion as well should not be too difficult. All it involves is a little preplanning of which foods will provide you with your daily vitamin intake, mineral enrichment, and all over essential nutrients without too much fat or too many calories. Some picnic menus really don’t need very much altering. For instance, a main course of grilled lean chicken breast or snacking on watermelon for dessert would not be snubbed upon. In fact, such foods would be very much welcomed on the picnic menu.
There is nothing like an outside gathering on a beautiful summer day sharing food and fun with the people you most care about. And, for some reason, food takes on an extra great flavor when eating outside. Outdoor appetites seem to flourish after taking in the sunshine and summer breezes, and playing a game of volleyball or badminton. Reaching for the right foods when the stomach begins to grumble should not be too difficult if your picnic menu has been predetermined with healthy snacks, foods and drinks which provide an adequate daily vitamin intake and sufficient mineral enrichment.
Before the main course, think about the grab-snacks, the foods you would be likely to grab for from the beginning of the picnic until the end. Normally, this would most likely be potato chips, or another snack of the same sort. In place of regular potato chips, try choosing the baked version, vegetable chips, or pretzels which are naturally lower in fat. Add some real health benefits to your snacking by including fresh fruits and vegetables.
Salads should be included in your picnic menu. A tossed green salad with a variety of chopped fresh vegetables is wonderful with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Salads which are normally mayonnaise based are still good if made with minimal mayonnaise or the light version, and kept properly chilled in a cooler. Don’t forget the beans. Baked beans will give you the fiber you need and add to your menu as a tasty side dish. Just from the side dishes alone, you may find all of your vitamins and minerals needed for the day.
Besides the recommended lean chicken breast for grilling, burgers and hot dogs are typical picnic grilling foods, of course. There is no reason to pass on these protein items when choosing lean ground beef for the burgers and lower fat versions of the hot dogs, bratwurst, and other sausages. Marinated seafood and vegetables are another choice of grilled main entrées. Kabobs with a blend of lean meat and veggies are great, as well. Eating leaner with portion control will keep you from a mid-day energy slump.
There’s always room for desserts, especially on a picnic. The standard of picnics, watermelon, will satisfy your craving of something sweet and juicy. Honeydew and cantaloupe are great choices as well. Precut your choice of fruits into a fruit salad, if desired. Include some angel food cake with fresh berries to cover. Top this off with some fat-free whipped topping which you can store in the cooler.
Have plenty of bottled water, sugar free lemonades and teas, or 100 percent fruit juices in the cooler. Playing those typical outdoor picnic games will keep you thirsting for something cool and quenchable. Especially if it is an extremely hot day, you will want to keep your body hydrated so your energy level stays up, and the fun keeps going.
Tags: daily vitamin intake, mineral enrichment, picnic menus
