Savour A Summer Picnic With These Healthy Picnic Ideas

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The sun is shining, the grass is waving in a warm breeze, and it’s time for the perfect summer picnic. You want to nurture your body this season with foods that glow up your skin and look after your gut and heart health. But you don’t know what to bring instead of fairy cakes, crisps and Coca-Cola. You really need some healthy picnic food ideas.

In this article, we’re giving you a list of summer picnic ideas to keep you feeling good. Read on for healthy picnic recipes, healthy picnic snacks, and the best picnic drinks.

What should I pack for a healthy picnic?

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You need to make sure your wicker basket contains everything you need for a perfect summer picnic. Here are some ideas to pack before you head out the door.

Healthy lunches or dinners - Bring wholesome and nutritious lunches or dinners. Consider healthy summer picnic salads (keep reading for summer salad recipes) or cold pasta salad.
Picnic snacks - No picnic is complete without a section of healthy picnic snacks. Slice up some cucumber for refreshing and crunchy goodness and read on for Grape Tree’s top picnic snack recommendations.
Picnic-friendly drinks - Many picnic areas don’t allow alcoholic beverages. But what do you drink if you want to skip a sugary lemonade or have something more exciting than water? Don’t you worry, this article has you covered. Stay tuned for our best picnic drinks.

Best foods to take on a picnic

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You’re excited to grab an outdoor rug and cycle to your favourite picnic spot for a tasty meal. So, you open the cupboards and search for the best healthy picnic foods. Here are a handful of easy healthy picnic food ideas:

Summer picnic salads - Picture this: a delightful summer salad made of baby spinach, crunchy kale, fried tofu and a sprinkle of honey-coated walnuts. Sounds like summer heaven. Skip to the easy, healthy picnic recipes section for more ideas.
Healthy picnic sandwiches - Instead of sugary jam sandwiches, switch them out for sandwiches packed with fibre-friendly foods.

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Sugar-free sweets - Being healthy doesn’t mean you can’t have a little sweetness in your life! Our selection of sugar-free sweets includes Gummy Bears, Cola Bottles and Chocolate Chip Cookies.
Trail mix - Our trail mix is a scrumptious blend of raisins, walnuts, peanuts and banana chips. You can make your own trail mix with dried fruit, nuts and seeds.
Dried fruit - Fresh fruit is refreshing and cooling in summer, but it gets easily squashed in a picnic basket. Take packets of dried fruit instead to boost fibre and vitamin C. Stick around for our favourite summer picnic fruit suggestions.

Easy, healthy picnic recipes

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For an easy summer picnic, you need picnic recipes that taste great. So, we’ve collected some of our incredible salad recipes to make if you’re feeling adventurous.

Healthy lunch ideas for picnic

Healthy food to take on a picnic needs to be exciting and brimming with aromas and flavours. So, we’ve curated a handful of beautiful summer salads, gut-nurturing pasta and vegan-friendly sandwiches that look and taste incredible. Check them out below:

Healthy picnic snacks

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Your lunch has gone down, you’ve napped in the warm sun, and you're starting to feel peckish. Chocolate will melt, strawberries are quickly squashed, and you don’t want to fill up on salty crisps. Take a look at Grape Tree’s list of healthy picnic snack alternatives:

Nuts and dried fruit:

Healthy crisps:

Easy picnic snack recipes:

Best picnic drinks

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Water is essential to stay hydrated when it’s hot. But you also want something more exciting to celebrate the gorgeous weather. Take a look at our vibrant, alcohol-free drinks to elevate your picnic:

Read more: The Truth About Drinking Kombucha.

What is a classic picnic food?

Sometimes, you want to travel back in time and enjoy the simplicity of classic picnic food. Here are our nostalgic and healthy picnic food recommendations:

Sausage rolls

Sausage rolls are a must at any picnic, but this recipe for Walnut And Chestnut Sausage Rolls isn’t your standard picnic food. We’ve upgraded them to nourish your tummy by including a blend of omega-3 walnuts and anti-oxidant cranberries. Let them cool once they come out of the oven then slice them up for a classic picnic food.

Homemade cake

Cake is a classic picnic treat, but we know you’re here to keep it healthy. This Vegan Simnel Loaf Cake recipe is made with ground almond flour for fibre and plant-based protein. It’s also packed full of sultanas and golden and blush raisins. We’ve popped in a handful of flaxseeds for natural omega-3 and finished it off with a zesty zing of orange peel.

What foods can you eat cold at a picnic?

There’s a wide range of healthy cold picnic food you can pack in your picnic basket. Below are some cold picnic foods that we love to take with us on a warm day:

What can I take in a picnic instead of sandwiches?

Not everyone likes sandwiches, especially if you’re planning a healthy beach picnic (no one likes sand in their cheese sandwich!). But there are plenty of other options you can try that are deliciously nutritious:

Have the perfect summer picnic with Grape Tree

Lay out the picnic blanket and open your wicker basket filled with healthy picnic foods. Enjoy cooling salads, juicy summer fruits and refreshing summer picnic drinks. Kick back, relax and nourish your body this summer with Grape Tree.