| When determing the menu for a picnic, the | | | | alternatives are tasty and will benefit your |
| name of the game is tasty. But, tasty doesn't | | | | family's health. When dressing the burger, |
| have to equate to unhealthy. A picnic menu | | | | add a generous slice of tomato, onion, and/or |
| can be just as nutritious and easy as a meal | | | | lettuce. The more food items you can make |
| you would serve at home. Picnic appetizers | | | | ahead of time, the more calm the actual |
| keep guests from going stir crazy while they | | | | picnic will be. Chicken breast or seafood |
| wait for the grill to warm up. Prepare or buy | | | | kabobs can be purchased fresh directly from |
| a container of veggie dip. If you buy the | | | | the meat department of the local grocer. Keep |
| dip, purchase the light version. When | | | | them in a ice packed cooler until ready to |
| whipping up a dip, substitute regular ranch | | | | grill. A side dish of brown rice can be |
| dressing with a ranch seasoning mix and a | | | | served with the kabobs for a complete meal. |
| container of low fat sour cream. The taste is | | | | Dessert at a picnic usually consists of cake |
| just as flavorful but without all of the | | | | or some other sweet confection. Fruit salad |
| added calories. To accompany your dip, | | | | is a healthy twist on dessert. A combination |
| consider a raw vegetable platter. Vegetables | | | | of sweet fruits topped with coconut pieces or |
| are less heavy than chips and they won't | | | | served with a fruit dip satisfies the sugar |
| negatively impact your waistline if you over | | | | craving. Try grilled fruits like pineapples |
| indulge. Preparing the vegetables the eve of | | | | or peaches for a tangy tasting dessert. When |
| gives you more time the day of the picnic. | | | | it comes to drinks, opt for bottled water or |
| Vegetables can be sliced into decorative | | | | juices. Sugar free flavor packets can be |
| chips with a crinkle cutter for added | | | | added to bottled water for a fruity drink if |
| variety. If the kids require salty snacks, | | | | you don't want to drink juice. If picnickers |
| opt for the baked variety. Most snack | | | | will be in the sun a lot, water offers better |
| companies make a baked, lower fat option of | | | | hydration than soda drinks. A picnic doesn't |
| their popular snacks. Even better, one | | | | have to be the end of a health conscious way |
| hundred calorie snack bags will keep them | | | | of eating. Healthier menu items can be |
| from consuming too many of their favorite | | | | managed even on the grill. Pre-planning can |
| snacks. Frozen burger patties don't have to | | | | keep the menu less filling not to mention |
| be diet busters. Choose from turkey burger | | | | easy and stress-free. |
| patties or 98% lean hamburger. These | | | | |