Here are some foods you can substitute for picnic favorites to keep things healthy while not sacrificing too much taste this Memorial Day season:
Healthy Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea #1: Salsa
Instead of going for the classic potato chips and french onion dip combo at your Memorial Day picnic, choose chips and salsa instead. Get some all-natural organic chips instead of the salty normal kind you find at grocery stores. Salt is a big contributor to health problems across the board.
Good, organic, natural corn chips and garden fresh salsa tastes way better than that same old chips and dip combo most people go with on Memorial Day.
Healthy Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea # 2: Lightly Sweetened Iced Tea
Use real tea bags instead of Lipton's tea which is packed with highly-processed high fructose corn syrup.
Add just enough real sugar to the tea after mixing it and pouring it into a pitcher and also use lemons to sweeten it.
Real sugar isn't a health food by any stretch but putting your own sugar in allows you to control calories. Stay away from artificial sweeteners and diet sodas as many researchers have found it doesn't help people lose weight. Instead many researchers have found that it causes peoples' appetites to increase.
Health isn't always about calorie control by the way, it can also be about eating the way nature intended. Use a reverse-osmosis water filter for the healthiest possible drink for your body.
Healthy Food Memorial Day Picnic Food Idea #3: Vegetable Tray
Just about anything tastes good with a little bit of ranch, preferably light ranch. Instead of the pesticide-laced, overpriced veggie trays you'll find at the factory-sized grocery stores, buy some tasty organic carrots and broccoli (not too expensive at all, really) and add a few other choices to that mix to mix your own tray.
Cook Quality Food not Fatty Food
Grilled Potato Wedges – I wash and slice potatoes into wedges (I leave on peels for added nutrients). I put them into a bowl and coat them lightly with some olive oil. Spray a sheet of aluminum foil with Pam cooking spray and lay the wedges out in 1 to 3 layers on foil. You can certainly add chives, garlic powder, onion salt, seasoning salt, crushed red pepper flakes or just plain ole chopped onion. Make the wedges to fit your taste buds. Then, wrap them up in foil so olive oil and steam can’t escape. Grill over indirect heat at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes.
Oriental Coleslaw – This is a favorite amongst my big kids.
I originally found the recipe online at cooks.com – Oriental Coleslaw Recipe
:Coleslaw
1 bag Dole coleslaw
1/4-1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
2 tbsp. sesame seeds
2-3 chopped green onions (optional)
1 pkg. chicken flavored Ramen noodles
Dressing
Flavor packet from Ramen noodles
1 tsp. seasoned salt
2 tbsp. sugar
1/4 c. oil
1/4 c. rice vinegar
Sometimes, I only use half of the Ramen Noodles and add more crunchy sliced carrots or almonds. You’ll save some empty calories here. I do use olive oil also. Oh! Please do use only rice vinegar. I tried using regular once… It was awful. Lesson learned. ;)
Your body will thank you for eating the good stuff.
Check back on the next blog when we explore a way to keep you safe from bugs while spending time outdoors this Memorial Day weekend!
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