Enjoy The Weather With A Picnic - Tips And Recipes For A Healthy Picnic

Going on a nice picnic is a great way that you can create some wonderful memories with your family. After all, there is something about the open air that just makes everything special. Forget the strawberry stains or even the ants when you are out there sharing food and fun with people you love.

The great thing is that you can enjoy some great healthy foods with a bit of planning. After all, with sealed containers, you can make about any dish portable. Some people tend to bring along high calorie foods, such as chips, for their picnic. If you want to make sure you have a healthy picnic, here are some great tips, and even a recipe you can use for a healthy picnic everyone will enjoy.

Tip #1 - Forget the Chips

Chips may be nice and crunchy, but the calories and fat can really add up fast on a picnic. Instead of taking along the chips, go with cut up veggies and fruits. They add plenty of crunch, they taste great, and they are healthy as well. It is easy to share cut up veggies and fruits on your picnic too and they will definitely add something special.

Tip #2 - Drink Healthy Drinks

You can make your picnic even more festive with a few great drinks. Avoid going with high sugar sodas while you are on the picnic. One great option is to go with seltzer that has a bit of juice for a festive drink that does not include alcohol. Boxed wines are another tasty choice - just do not drink too much. Since you will be outdoors, ensure you get plenty of water as well so you do not end up dealing with dehydration.

Tip #3 - Keep Everything Cool

You also need to ensure that you keep everything cool when you go out on a picnic, especially those perishables. Use small plastic containers to keep the perishables in. Then you can put them in an ice chest and keep them nice and cold until you are ready to begin eating. This way you avoid having to deal with any food poisoning, which is sure to ruin your picnic.

Tip #4 - Have Dessert Too

No picnic is really complete until you have a nice dessert. Of course, you do not have to go with high calorie desserts to have something everyone will enjoy. One of the natural options that makes a great and low calorie dessert is watermelon. Sure, it is messy and sticky, but it is definitely a crowd pleasure. Another option is to go with other fresh fruits that are in season for the dessert. Berries are a great option that offer you plenty of antioxidants, which makes a healthy dessert that tastes great and helps improve health too.

Salsa Verde Recipe

If you are taking along veggies or some healthy whole grain chips, salsa is definitely going to be a great addition to the picnic. Try this salsa recipe for a healthy kick.

Ingredients:

• 2 large jalapenos with the stems removed
• 3 pounds of tomatillos, rinsed and husked
• 5 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 5 bunches of cilantro fresh, trimmed of any thick stems
• ½ teaspoons of ground cumin
• 1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, packed1.
• 5 teaspoons of salt
• 5 teaspoons of vegetable or olive oil

Mix jalapenos and tomatillos in a sauce pan. Cover them with water and boil. Simmer on lower heat until they are soft. Allow to stand to cool for 15 minutes, then drain. Use a food processor to chop garlic, cumin, and tomatillo mixture. Add the other ingredients and blend until you have a chunky salsa. Heat up the oil in a saucepan. Add your salsa and simmer it until it thickens. Should reduce down to about 4 cups. Stir in the salt last. Cool and serve later.