Here're some guidelines that will help you add some natural color to your basket and give you that healthy pick-up you'll need while spending time in the sun (or the shade).
Try replacing potato salad, pasta salad, and/or coleslaw with less starchy choices. Instead of using cabbage for your coleslaw, try using shredded carrots and broccoli (healthier than cabbage), and add poppy seed dressing in substitute of mayonnaise. Portabella mushrooms make nice alternatives also for pasta salads. Try adding zucchini, peas, corn, and broccoli in with your mushrooms, and then toss them with light vinaigrette—your palate will be pleasantly surprised.
Leave the sugary snacks behind and reach for the fruit instead. Cookies, pastries, and sweet breads make excellent desserts for picnics or beach trips. However, natural sugars, like those found in fruits, are far more nutritious—and just as tasty. But if you must have a cookie, opt for an oatmeal raisin or whole-wheat one.
Forget to pack the soda. By substituting juice or water for soda, you'll not just be saving yourself from the calories, but also opting for a healthier addition to your picnic. If it's the bubbles you and your family crave, then look for carbonated fruit waters. They're healthier and just as satisfying.
For some healthy recipes from EatingWell.com click here.
