As a child, I eagerly awaited that magical time every summer when my mother would declare, "Picnic season has arrived!" My mother hailed from Tennessee and North Carolina, and she never abandoned her views of the foods that constitute a proper picnic: big hot dogs, soft hot dog buns, mayonnaise and sour cream and onion soup dip for the traditional corn and potato chips. And, of course, the crowning glory: marshmallows, which would be toasted then pressed between chocolate bars layered with graham crackers.
When Grandma Sara accompanied us, she insisted on bringing "something healthy," which usually meant soggy carrot sticks and limp celery stalks wilting under the weight of garlic salt. Those raw veggies always sat on their own little paper plate throughout the picnic, with only the occasional guest politely attempting to nibble on one of so-called appetizers (appetizing they weren't!).
Nobody gives you more ways to lose weight! eDiets has more than 20 plans to help you eat healthy, lose weight and take control of your life. With our 24/7 online support, we're there whenever you need us for motivation and support. To get started, click here and fill out a free diet profile.
For your picnic this year, here are some suggestions to make your picnics both healthy and flavorful!
- For a main course, use canned or poached tuna or salmon such as Chicken of the Sea. Combine the tuna or salmon with chopped celery, scallions or green onions and serve on wheat bread with lettuce for a healthy fish treat.
- If you're longing for hot dogs or hamburgers but want to venture into the brave world of non-meat substitutes, try Morningstar Farms' veggie burgers. Serve with lettuce, fresh tomato, and a pickle -- even the Golden Arches fans among you will be impressed.
- For a sugar-free dessert that tastes like a treat, go for the gold: Snackwell's sugar-free lemon creme sandwich cookies! These delicious treasures contain only 130 calories for a generous serving of three cookies. My neighbor, Dan the Car Man, who boasts that he has never tasted a "nasty diet food product" that he liked, sampled one of these cookies. "Oh, now THESE must be crammed with sugar -- these are GOOD!" he declared. When I told him the sweet sugar-free truth, this was his response: "In that case, I'll take a couple more."
RSS/XML
