July is National Picnic Month! 

With the weather finally warm and rainy days coming to an end, it is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. This month is especially the perfect time to get outdoors and celebrate because July is National Picnic Month. It is the month made for relaxing in the great weather and enjoying good food with good company.

When we think of picnic food, the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fruit slices and boring salads are usually what comes to most people’s minds. Although those are American summer picnic classics, that doesn’t mean picnics can only include these foods.

Picnics are a great way to experiment with different dishes, drinks and desserts that are more healthy and nutritious than you may think. Below are some of your favorite tips for changing up your traditional picnic, and making the most out of National Picnic Month.

• Healthy Finger Food – Try turning nutritious snacks into easy grab-and-go bites. Make hummus and vegetable wraps, fruit salad skewers, or cracker and cheese slice mini sandwiches.
• Twist on the Traditional Salads – A picnic is the perfect opportunity to mix in some fresh summer ingredients. Add fruit to your traditional salads such as strawberries to a spinach salad, or grapes into chicken and tuna salad. These will freshen up your picnic and turn those boring salads into something new and delicious.
• Homemade Flavored Water – Homemade flavored water is always our go-to fun summer drink. This is a great way to satisfy those soda or juice cravings, but with a healthy alternative. Add fruit, vegetables and fresh herbs into water and bring a pitcher along to your next picnic; it’s sure to be a hit. Check out our Pinterest page for great flavored water combinations.
• Break Out the Mini Grill – Packing a mini grill will switch up any traditional picnic. If you don’t have your own mini grill, try finding a park or camp site that already has grills available to use. Breaking out the grill brings a backyard barbecue twist to your picnic.
• Keep It Cool – With all these new food ideas, it is still the most important to make sure you are maintaining food safety when packing for your picnic. This means keeping appropriate foods cold or hot and making sure they do not spoil in the heat.
• Eat on Location – Finally, the best part about a picnic is that they can happen anywhere. This summer try taking your picnic to all different spots. Break out the blanket under a tree in the park, or spread out your meal on a towel at the beach. Brining your picnic foods along with you can help families and friends stay active during the summer without the worry of stopping to get food and eat.

Here is a recipe from our Pinterest page that outs a fun picnic twist on a traditional salad.

Salad on a Stick (http://www.caramelpotatoes.com/2012/07/25/salad-on-a-stick/)

Ingredients:

• Iceberg lettuce, cut into chunks about 2-2 1/2 inches
• Cucumber, thinly sliced on a diagonal
• Carrots, thinly sliced on a diagonal
• Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
• Favorite dressing {Creamy Ranch Dressing or Peppercorn Ranch are excellent choices}

Directions:

• Thread the carrots, cucumber, lettuce and tomatoes onto long wooden skewers, alternating vegetables.  Serve with dressing drizzled over the top or along the side for dipping.

Sarah Domino, Penn State Intern