THE FOURTH OF JULY IS ALMOST HERE! Do you have your picnic plan?
Everyone loves a great picnic, but when you’re trying to stay on track with your healthy lifestyle, picnics are often detrimental to your progress. From greasy burgers to casseroles, to dips and desserts, one meal can easily rack up enough calories for an entire day or more! Often after a few picnics, you start to feel sluggish and bloated, but it doesn’t have to be that way!
You can have fun and picnic all summer long and still feel great and stay on track. Even better, summer is the season of fresh produce and cool, zesty flavors. It’s hot out and your body naturally craves lighter foods with light, crisp flavors. Most of the time, these foods just happen to be healthier for you, so why not take advantage of the opportunity and TRANSFORM YOUR PICNIC!
Here is an easy line up of the top 4th of July picnic foods and how you can make much healthier versions that are just as delicious, and don’t leave you feeling guilty later.
Burgers
The hamburger, or cheeseburger, is one of the most common picnic foods you’ll find as you fire up your grill. On the plus side, they are a good source of protein and extra protein can help your body process the extra sugar you eat. However, many burgers are made with greasy, processed beef, or beef blends, that are packed with chemicals and additives and eaten on nutrient-less, white flour hamburger buns.
Instead, try this amazing recipe for savory turkey burgers that are packed full of flavor!
BBQ Chicken
If you’re not a fan of the classic burger, or just want to add some variety to your protein options at your picnic, barbeque chicken is a great alternative. Even better, it’s super easy to prep and marinade the chicken so all you have to do the day of is hand off the chicken to whoever’s manning the grill and let them cook away!
Baked Beans
No picnic is complete without baked beans and this recipe is definitely one you’ll want to plan ahead, but once you finish the easy prep work, all you have to do is let them cook. Try this healthier version at your fourth of July picnic this year.
Macaroni Salad
Macaroni salad is one of my favorite side dishes to have on the 4th of July! The best part is, that it doesn’t take much additional effort to make a large batch and you can feed a few or many people very easily. As an added bonus, you can easily make this dish gluten free, which is just my cup of tea!
Gluten Free Strawberry “Pretzel” Salad
This is one of my favorite desserts to have on the Fourth of July and my mom has made it every year since I can remember. Try this healthier option today.
Fruit Salad
Fruit salads are one of the easiest ways you can make your summer picnic healthier. Simply buy a bunch of your favorite fruits, wash them up, cut them into bite sized pieces, and mix together in a bowl and you’re done!
To keep fruit fresh longer and for an added zest, add lemon juice to your fruit mixture. You’re guests will love it!
Vegetable Tray
Veggie trays are just as easy as fruit salad. Add some festive veggies to your tray by using different crinkle cutters and make your vegetables look fancy. Who can have vegetables without a vegetable dip. Try this all-natural one that easy to whip up ahead of time
Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
Last but not least, we can’t forget about dessert. Cookies are always an easy, make-ahead addition to any gathering. Try my homemade chocolate chip cookies. They’re gluten free and guilt-free!
BONUS TIPS
Even with healthier options at picnics, you can easily go overboard because many of us just want to try all of the delicious foods. But remember, picnic portions should not be regular portions. Sometimes our brains are so programmed to scoop a ½ cup of macaroni salad (or more!) because that is what a portion looks like, but if you’re eating 14 different things instead of just 3, you have to cut down the portions or you’ll still feel sick at the end of the day.
I recommend starting small. Look at your plate as a sampling plate instead of a dinner plate and just get a small scoop of everything you want to try. Once you try it all, if you’re still hungry, or you want more of your favorite dishes, go back and get more of those couple things. That way you can enjoy your favorite dishes and not feel like you missed out on something just because you were trying to be healthy and stay on track.
My second tip is to get involved with backyard activities. Everyone loves being outside in the warm summer air and what better time to get a game of backyard football or run around with the kiddos than at a picnic. (You might even tire little ones out enough for a good afternoon nap!)
Have a happy Fourth of July everyone and enjoy your time with your friends and family. Remember the reason we celebrate and show your national pride and enjoy!
If you have any recipes remakes you want to share for your family barbeques, let me know! I’d love to hear from you!