Perfect Picnic Foods

Warm spring weather is the perfect prompt to turn your weekend lunch into a picnic experience! You don’t need anything fancy to create a fun picnic - just pack your lunch into tupperware containers, stash them in a backpack or canvas bag, and go eat outside - at the park, the beach, or a picnic table near you. 

Our SNAP-Ed Nutrition Educators love to pack healthy sandwiches and grain salads for an easy picnic. 

For a plant-based twist on tuna salad, try this fiber and protein-packed Chickpea Salad layered between slices of whole wheat bread. If a grain salad sounds like the perfect picnic spread to you, try this Asparagus and Quinoa Salad, which combines seasonal vegetables like asparagus and radishes with hearty quinoa and crunchy almonds.  

No matter what you pack picnicking, remember these tips to make your outdoor meal fun and easy: 

• Wear your sunscreen, and bring hats and sunglasses too! 

• Pack the utensils you’ll need in a reusable pouch - and include extra! 

• Bring along a cloth napkin or paper towels for easy cleanup. 

• Don’t forget the drinks! Try plain water with a squeeze of citrus juice, or bring along a few cans of flavored seltzer water for a special treat. 

SNAP-Ed educators at Healthy Acadia offer year-round cooking and nutrition classes in partnership with schools and organizations throughout Hancock and Washington counties. To learn more or schedule a class, contact Kirsten in Washington County, or Nicole or Despe in Hancock County.