Picnics are a great way to encourage family time and healthy living.
Finding healthy foods that children are willing to eat can seem impossible, but there are a number of options incorporating fruits, vegetables and proteins that will give your children the fuel they need to lead healthy lives. Taking your children on a picnic is a great way to encourage healthy activities, and many of these healthy snacks can easily be served outdoors.
Dipping Vegetables
Buy baby carrots or cut up whole carrots into sticks. Cut up thin celery sticks, and cut broccoli into bite-sized pieces. Cut up green and red peppers into strips, but remove the seeds beforehand. Pair these colorful vegetable pieces with the low-fat version of your child's favorite dipping sauce: low-fat ranch or blue cheese, for example. This healthy snack is great for picnics because it is portable and not messy. Bring a small dish in which to serve the sauce. Dip apple slices in peanut butter for a sweeter alternative.
Ants on a Log
Children love food with weird, interesting names. Cut celery into strips, spreading peanut butter or low-fat cream cheese on the celery and placing raisins or dried cranberries on top of this. This healthy snack will make children laugh and supply them with some of the nutrients they need. This is a great snack to take on picnics because it can be completely prepared and packaged at home. Put the ants on a log in an air-tight container, and place the container with the rest of the picnic food.
Egg Heads
Slice hard-boiled eggs into thick slices. Place one of each of these slices on a cracker and top it with your child's favorite toppings, or whatever you have in your house. Use chopped-up vegetables, chives or spices. This is the type of snack that would be better prepared at the picnic. Package the sliced eggs, crackers, and toppings separately and put them together when you are ready to eat. The eggs provide protein, which is necessary in a healthy diet.
Banana Dog
Spread peanut butter on a whole-wheat hot dog bun. Sprinkle sunflower seeds over this, and lightly press a peeled banana onto this. Spread a thin layer of jelly or jam over the banana. This snack tastes good, and it will remind children of the unhealthier alternative: hot dogs. Prepare everything at the picnic, just before the kids eat these snacks. The protein from the peanut butter and the nutrients and vitamins from the banana will give children healthy energy.
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