Healthier Food Options for Outdoor BBQs, Picnics and Camping

Healthy  Foods for Summer Outings, Picnics and Camping Trips

Enjoying time as a family in the outdoors is a great way to have fun with your children this summer- a family picnic or bbq at a local park, a mini hiking trip, cooking out at local lake, or a camping trip to a state park is an affordable way to spend a fun family weekend.

The great outdoors offers so many wonderful benefits of family time, special bonding moments, appreciation for wildlife and our earth, time away from the TV, and fun active outdoor activities. But too often, we bring prepackaged foods, hot dogs and chips to fill our kids’ tummies. Here are some easy healthy outdoor eating tips to ensure a great family time with fun and healthy food.

Here are some healthy BBQ ideas, outdoor food recipes and substitutions for picnics, trips to the beach, or camping:

• Bring water instead of soda and juice
• Oatmeal packets and add fresh fruit instead of sugary cereals for breakfast
• Mini-carrots or slices of jicama with hummus instead of chips
• Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and other seeds or cashews, almonds or other nuts are a crunchy treat instead of crackers. Alert* double check with parents and kids and avoid nuts if anyone has nut food allergies
• String cheese and grapes instead of fruit rolls ups.
• Visit the local farmer's market and let the kids pick out some in season fruits for snacks and vegetables for veggies and dip!
• Salads are refreshing for outdoor picnics, keep dressing on the side
• Beans are a great side dish for barbecues and full of fiber and protein!
• A homemade whole bean burrito instead of a lunchable package (your child will get the benefits of fiber and protein from the beans).
• Whole wheat turkey sandwich or tofu pup instead of a hotdog
• Go veggie- try our Eggplant BBQ burger recipe
• Look for lean ground beef for burgers, skinless chicken breast and seafood for healthier barbecue meats
• Try our Veggie Packed Turkey Burger BBQ Recipe
• Grilled vegetables of all kinds are delicious and kids love to help put them on the skewer
• Simple Grilled Zucchini Recipe
• Get fancy with Grilled Bread Salad with Tomato and Basil Recipe
• Jazz up and healthify your potato salad- try this southwestern potato salad recipe
• Raisins instead of candy
• Fresh fruit salad, watermelon or berries with yogurt make great desserts
• For healthier barbecue food marinate any meat before cooking and avoid over blackening the food.

Deciding what food to bring and packing healthy foods for family picnics or camping outdoors can be a challenge. It is important to teach kids that fun summer food can also be healthy choices - so pack up the cooler or picnic with some healthy foods that you and your children will enjoy on your next outdoor adventure.

More delicious outdoor summer food ideas and BBQ recipes:

Try some great BBQ recipes from Meatless Monday!

Cookouts without the Meat recipes on Women's Health

Healthy Scoop Tips on BBQ Foods

The Kitchn  15 Tips for Grilling Greatness

Healthful Sense Bean Burger Recipe for BBQ

Source: Adapted from our family nutrition newsletter- Nourish Healthy Kids by Ann Kolker MS RD