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