10 things that make a healthy picnic

There’s something so wonderful about dining al fresco, and it needn’t put paid to your diet plans either with our top 10 things that make a healthy picnic.

I would seriously eat every meal outdoors if I could. Whether it’s enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon BBQ with a group of friends or packing up the car for a weekend family picnic, food eaten in sunshine, on a colourful blanket, just tastes better!

The problem with England in summer is its unpredictability; even in July, sunshine is never guaranteed. So my picnics used to comprise hurriedly assembled, prepackaged snack foods, which make it a fairly expensive and very definitely unhealthy way to dine.

But there are of course some seriously delicious, uber-healthy alternative picnic treats. It simply requires a little more planning. And worse-case scenario, these beauties taste as enjoyable indoors as they do out – so you needn’t rely on the British weather to dine well.

1. Houmous

I love homemade houmous! It’s brilliantly simple, it’s easy to vary by adding beetroot or coriander, it’s incredibly healthy and, best of all, it tastes divine.

2. Salad

Try not to think of salad as a few stringy bits of lettuce dumped on the side of your plate. A nutritious combination of ingredients can transform a simple salad into a picnic centrepiece.

3. Chia pudding

Light, yet filling and so pretty in little glass jars, chia puddings are a real summer favourite. You can create a brilliant array of colours and flavours and they provide an absolute ton of energy. The seeds are easy to carry, too – perfect if you’re hiking and camping.

4. Cookie dough power balls 

Use a nut butter to create some delicious raw cookie dough power balls, they’re full of energy and provide perfect, bite-size picnic food.

5. Traditional lemonade

I do love my fizzy picnic drinks – Enid Blyton would have been proud. Rather than litres of sugar-filled pop, try making your own lemonade by juicing lemons, pears, ginger and sparkling water. I guarantee it beats the over-sugared, shop-bought stuff every time.

6. Nuts and seeds

With an abundance of healthy fats and lots of good energy, I opt for nuts and seeds over crisps every time. If they’re a little too bland for your tastebuds, try frying sunflower and pumpkin seeds in a teaspoon of coconut oil with pink Himalayan salt, or oven-roasting cashews and brazils with maple syrup and spices.

7. Guacamole

Simply blitz your avocado with red onion, coriander and lime to create a delicious, fresh, summer dip. Ideal for dunking number 9.

8. Lemon poppy seed muffins 

Rather than sugar-filled cupcakes, I love blitzing a batter using eggs and almond flour. Drizzle in the honey, lemon juice and a handful of poppy seeds to create some gorgeous picnic muffins.

9. Dunking veg sticks

Sliced cucumber and carrot sticks make brilliant healthy dipping options. Full of vitamins and nutrients, they’ll fill you up without filling you out!

10. Flavoured water

Staying hydrated in the sunshine is super important. Add chopped mint, cucumber, lemons and limes to still water and allow to infuse to create a much more interesting, hydrating alternative to boring old tap water.