It’s National Picnic Month and the perfect excuse to enjoy your meal outdoors and take advantage of all that summer has to offer. Today on Good Food Friday, is shared meals, snacks and desserts to pack for your al fresco meals.
Superfood snacks
First we have Salty Sweet Peanut Trail Mix and Peanut Butter Oat Squares. To make the oat squares, simple mix together 2 mashed bananas, 2 cups of quick oats and 1/2 cup of peanut butter. Peanuts and peanut butter are what I call superfoods because they are nutrient dense meaning they have a high level of vitamins and minerals relative to the calories they contain. Transfer to an 8 x 8 baking dish, top with peanuts and bake for 20 minutes at 350. Just 1 ounce serving or a handful of peanuts contains 7 grams of plant protein and 19 different vitamins and minerals including vitamin E, B vitamins, zinc, copper, magnesium and potassium. Studies suggest that those that consume peanuts or peanut butter regularly may have a reduce risk of certain chronic diseases including heart disease and diabetes.
Light Bite Appetizers
Next I shared veggie protein light bites made with King Oscar wild caught Mackeral Royal Filets part of the premium family of products by King Oscar which come in four delicious innovative flavor varieties including jalapeño and mediterranean. They are skinless, boneless, mild in taste and non-GMO. They are also packed with high quality protein and one of the best bioavailable soures of omega-3 fatty acids important for brain and heart health. Simply pair them with your summer veggie of choice like bell peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes to create satisfying light bites for your picnic that pair protein with filling fiber. You can find King Oscar products locally at Harris Teeter, Food Lion and Walmart.
Add flavor to your meal and apps for zero calories
Flavorful spices are an easy way to add a lot of flavor to our light bites for very little calories. I use FinaMill which is an electric mill that uses interchangeable pods to hold spices so that you can add different freshly ground spices to your food and drinks quickly and easily with one hand. Freshly ground spices are superior in taste and nutrition to pre-ground spices. Simply select your pod and click to grind. Each spice has its own pod which helps prevent cross contamination and keeps the flavors pure.
Serve beverages with benefits
Serve collagen-infused spa water at your picnic. Some research suggests that taking collagen daily may improve skin appearance and elasticity while minimizing unwanted signs of aging. Simply add fresh fruit, herbs and a scoop of the Sparkle Wellness Skin Boost Plus which contains highly studied verisol collagen. I used the unflavored variety but it also comes in flavors like mixed berry, apple ginger and orange.
