Summer time calls for picnics so find a shady spot to enjoy these easy and nutritious options.
Wraps with a low carb twist
First up we have wraps two ways with low carb twist. These veggie wraps and caprese wraps are made with a base of Egglife egg white wraps which are an innovative take on traditional tortillas made with cage-free eggs instead of flour so have 5 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of carbs and 35 calories per wrap. They come in 5 varieties including Southwest, Italian, Rye and Everything Bagel. For the veggie wrap – start with the original wrap and add spinach, cucumber, bell pepper, carrot, sprouts and avocado. Roll it up and cut it into rolls. For the caprese wrap – start with the Italian-style warp and add arugula, mozzarella, tomato, basil and avocado. Fold it up and serve.
5-minute picnic lunch
For picnic goers who want a 5 minute option try my snack lunchboxes. Simply combine your protein, produce, good fats and whole grains to build a satisfying lunchbox. For protein I used the all natural beef snacks made with Certified Piedmontese Beef raised sustainably and responsibly in Nebraska without the use of antibiotics or added hormones. This beef is known for being lean but tender making it a delicious dietitian-approved option. You can find it at CPbeef.com to ship straight to your door. Next, add veggies, fruit, whole grains and nutritious dips for good fats. Feel free to get creative with different protein, produce, good fats and whole grains. When you follow this formula, its easy to put together satisfying lunch in 5 minutes.
Lightened up pasta salad in a jar
Next I have an option for pasta lovers that saves nearly 97% of the calories. My pasta in a jar is made with a base of Miracle Noodle which is a traditional shirataki noodle that originated in Japanese cuisine made with konjac root and contains 97% water and 3% fiber. The miracle noodle noodles and rice has only 5 calories per serving and no fat, sugar or starch and can be used as a substitute in traditional pasta and rice dishes. For my recipe, add arugula, cherry tomatoes, red onion, avocado and bacon bits to a large mixing bowl, then add your shirtaki noodles, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Toss to combine and add to your jars.
Bubbly beverage with benefits
Finally, I have a beverage with benefits that’s portable and perfect for your picnic. Poppi is a bubbly drink made with apple cider vinegar and prebiotics which are a type of fiber that help selectively nourish the good bacteria in the gut which can therefore help support a healthy immune system. Unlike traditional soda, its low in calories and sugar but still comes in delicious flavors like ginger lime, watermelon and my favorite the strawberry lemon.
