7 HEALTHY picnic foods

Nothing screams Australian summer like a picnic, but creating a menu that’s nutritious, delicious and (most importantly) portable can be a bit tricky. Here are seven foods that will give your picnic a tasty, healthy edge.

- Lee Holmes

While some may think it’s mandatory to bring home-baked goodies like muffins or banana bread to a picnic, there are days when you just don’t have time. Plus, when it comes to what to eat, you might not feel like the typically heavier picnics of the past, those filled with sweet treats, cured meat, a cooked chicken and enough processed cheese to feed a small village.

To keep things healthy and delicious, aim for a variety of foods, making sure there’s enough protein to keep everyone full, a bowl of colourful fruits to feast your eyes on, lots of nutritious veggies to munch and some delicious snacks for those in-between moments.

If you’re keen to take your picnic to a new level, grab your closest esky and favourite picnic blanket and let’s tuck into a healthy feast.

Chickpeas

Chickpeas are legumes to the stars as they pack a proteinrich punch and are exceptionally versatile. I mean, does anyone need an excuse to eat more hummus? Chickpeas contain around 19g of protein per 100g and they help reduce blood sugar. They’re a genuine wonder food.

Sure, hummus takes just a little bit of extra effort, but it’s so worth it. You can transform your chickpeas into hummus with tahini, garlic, cold-pressed extra-virgin olive oil, lemon juice, salt and spices in a blender. Simply give it a blitz and when you’re at the picnic, you can refresh it with a little olive oil and some paprika on top for a bit of fun and serve in the middle of a platter with vegetable sticks like carrot, celery and cucumber.

If hummus isn’t your thing, try baking chickpeas in the oven with salt and spices for a popcorn-like sensation, or mash them up and use them as a replacement in your tuna wrap.