5 Healthy Picnic Foods and Activities
By Brandi Goodman
Whether you're celebrating Picnic Month in July, or you simply decided to go enjoy the popular activity, having a picnic can be full of good food and fun activities. Don't just head to your favorite spot with some sandwiches. Carefully consider the picnic foods you're bringing and the activities you want to do so you can make your picnic work for your health and fitness routine.
Bike or Walk to Your Destination
The activity can begin as soon as you leave your house. Simply bike or walk to a nearby spot so you can burn plenty of calories on the way there and back from your picnic. Biking will get you there faster if you're looking to head a bit farther out. If you have a local spot nearby, then a walk will be an easy option. Either option will have you enhancing your lower body strength.
Bring Along a Ball or Frisbee
Tossing a ball or throwing a Frisbee are common picnic activities. Bring something along so you and your friends or family have something to do after you eat. You don't just want to pack up some food to take and eat outdoors and head right home after. Make the most of your afternoon out by having something else to do while you're gone. You'll be burning calories and improving your upper body strength in the process.
Pack Plenty of Water
You need to stay hydrated when you're outdoors. Make sure you pack plenty of water for everyone so each person has enough to drink to keep their bodies satisfied. You should have at least one bottle of water per person, more if you'll be gone longer than a few hours, and another for each if you're walking or biking.
Enjoy Fruits and Vegetables
The best options for keeping your body hydrated and filled with nutrients are fruits and vegetables. Dice them up at home and pack them into containers that you can take along. Watermelon, tomato slices, cucumber slices, carrots, celery sticks, and the like are easy options when you're eating outdoors.
Make Turkey Roll-Ups on Whole Wheat Tortillas
Sandwiches are a food of choice for many picnic-goers. They often contain far too many calories and are high in carbs. Make turkey roll-ups on whole wheat tortillas instead. These bite-sized options are lower in calories and provide more nutrition than a basic PB&J.
As long as you're bringing along healthy foods and enjoying activities while you're out, a picnic can be a very rewarding experience for your mind and body. Don't allow yourself to overindulge in junk food just because it's easier when you're out. Take the time to pack nutritious options and you'll be all the better for it, not to mention the energy you'll have to make it back home.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Murfreesboro, Tenn.