July marks National Picnic Month, and as the weather starts to perk up – plenty of us will be dusting off our picnic baskets, slapping on our sun cream, and venturing into the great outdoors with family and friends to dine al-fresco style.
Of course you can’t turn up to a picnic empty-handed, so we’re here to lend you our picnic checklist to make your outdoor feast a success.
- Sandwiches
Of course this is number 1 on our list! It’s quite simply not a picnic if you don’t have an assortment of sandwiches to pick at. Some of our current favourite sandwich combinations are: light soft cheese and smoked salmon on wholemeal bread, light soft cheese and cucumber on wholemeal bread, and a trusty ham and 30% less fat cheese on wholemeal bread.
- Carrot and houmous roll-ups
If you’re not fancying a sandwich, perhaps a wrap might be able to tempt you? These carrot and houmous roll-ups are the perfect light summer snack, guaranteed to go down a treat. For the full recipe, click here.
- Fruit kebabs
As the weather gets better, so does the fruit (and just about everything else!). Most fruits are now the ripest, sweetest and cheapest they’ve ever been, so why not assemble your favourites on a skewer? You won’t be able to go back to eating your fruit normally ever again after trying these.
- Heart healthy salad
Although it may take a bit of a battering in transit, it sure doesn’t affect it’s tastiness. We suggest whipping up this super quick salad to bring along, packed full of protein and omega-3 to make it incredibly heart healthy. Make your own here.
- Tortilla crisps
Yes, you could buy your own – but where’s the fun in that? Bringing your own self-made tortilla crisps will sure be a crowd-pleaser and earn you some bonus points. Get the full recipe here.
- Salsa
You’re going to need a dip for those tortilla chips, so while you’re at it – make your own salsa to accompany them. You can also bring along your own cut-up veggies like cucumber and carrots to dip in. Click here to get your salsa recipe.
- Banana bread
No meal is complete without a little sweet treat after, however picnic desserts can prove to be tricky as most either melt or need to be packed with caution. This banana loaf cake found here is your best bet for a portable pudding (just make sure you slice before packing!)
What to pack in your picnic basket