8 Healthy Picnic Snack Ideas, Whether You Have Time or Not
If you’re looking for healthy picnic snack ideas, you’ve come to the right place.
We’re sharing eight delicious options that work whether you’re planning ahead or grabbing something quick as you head out the door.
Keep these healthy ideas handy, and you’ll be able to enjoy more picnics without having to worry so much about what to bring.
These choices will keep you and your crew satisfied and energized for a hike, bike ride, or whatever comes after your outdoor get-together.
So let’s start with:
3 Healthy Picnic Snack Ideas If You Have Time
These three healthy picnic snack ideas are perfect if you’re planning your alfresco meet-up ahead of time.
You only need to spare a few extra minutes to throw them together, and you probably already have most of what you need on hand:
1. Mason Jar Salads
If you have all the ingredients to make a tasty salad, you’ll have a refreshing, satisfying snack that’s customizable for everyone’s tastes.
To make a mason jar salad:
- Add your dressing to the bottom of the jar.
- Stack wet toppings, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, or cheese, on top of that.
- Pile on additions like nuts, dried fruits, seeds, croutons, etc., in the next layer.
- Finish with some fresh lettuce, spinach, or kale on top.
The purpose of packing your mason jar like this is to keep your salad fresh, crunchy, and ready to grab for your next picnic.
Since the wet items will stay close to the bottom of the jar, they won’t create a soggy mess for your other ingredients.
All you have to do is shake up the salad at your picnic and eat it straight out of the jar when the time comes. Mason jars make salads a super convenient option and clean-up is a breeze.
PS: You don’t have to limit yourself to lettuce-based salads here.
Pasta salad also packs well. And if you make it yourself, you can load it up with your favorite veggies and a dressing of your choice to make it even healthier.
2. Sandwiches or Wraps
Sandwiches and wraps are also fantastic healthy picnic ideas because they won’t take too long to put together, and they’re easy to eat without utensils.
Whether you buy egg salad, chicken salad, or make your own, you can quickly put together a healthy grab-and-go sandwich that’s perfect for a picnic.
You can also pack your sandwiches or wraps with your favorite deli meats, such as chicken, turkey, ham, or roast beef. Have any leftover chicken or turkey from the night before? That works too!
To make your snack extra special, throw in a slice of cheese, lettuce, and veggies like avocado, tomato, or sprouts.
3. Yogurt Parfaits
Low-sugar yogurt parfaits make a protein-rich snack full of healthy probiotics. And they work well whether you’re planning a morning or afternoon picnic.
Similar to the mason jar salads, add your yogurt to your container first. Then stack your fruit on top of the yogurt layer. Finally, top it all off with your favorite cereal, granola, nuts and seeds, or even crumbled-up protein bars.
Eating this snack will feel like you’re indulging in dessert when you’re actually nourishing your body with healthy goodies. And it’s a fan-favorite with kids!
5 Healthy Picnic Snack Ideas If You’re Short on Time
When the weather’s too nice to be cooped up indoors, you may decide on a last-minute picnic and need quick snack ideas.
Instead of falling back on junk food, you can find most of these healthier options in your grocery store’s grab-and-go section or even at the gas station.
These will make you feel good and have you covered in a pinch:
1. Protein Bars and a Piece of Fruit
While having a fancy picnic and a full spread is nice to have every once in a while, it’s not always practical.
So if you’re short on time and just want to get outside, keep a few protein bars handy and grab a fresh piece of fruit as you run out the door.
The protein bar will keep you satisfied for quite some time, and the fruit’s natural sugars will add a bit of pep to your step. That all helps when you’re hiking to the best picnic spot.
2. Veggies and Dips
Another easy, healthy picnic snack idea is to grab some fresh-cut vegetables and pair them with a side of your favorite dip.
You can crunch on raw celery, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, or peppers. Then, mix these up with hummus, ranch, blue cheese, guacamole, or any other dip that strikes your fancy.
3. Crackers and Cheese (or a DIY Charcuterie Board)
Want to class up your picnic with a fancy charcuterie board?
Most stores sell small grab-and-go platters with meat, cheese, and pickled veggies or jam, so you don’t need much time or effort to make this happen.
But if you don’t have time to stop on your way to the park, just grab a box of crackers and whatever cheese you have on hand. This savory snack will keep you satisfied without overdoing it.
4. Edamame
Edamame is often overlooked when it comes to snacking, but it’s actually one of the best healthy foods to munch on. That’s because it’s loaded with fiber, protein, and some healthy fats.
You’ll feel full without feeling weighed down, so you can have fun instead of needing a nap.
5. Apples and Nut Butter
For a sweeter picnic treat, enjoy some fresh-cut apples with your favorite nut butter.
By pairing the fruit with a slow-digesting nut butter bursting with healthy fats, you’ll ensure that you don’t spike your blood sugar too much. You’ll also stay full longer than if you had the fruit on its own.
If you don’t want to use fruit, celery and nut butter makes a low-carb friendly option that’s just as tasty.
Final Thoughts on These Healthy Picnic Snack Ideas
After reading this guide, you now have plenty of healthy picnic snack ideas whether you have time or not.
Keeping things simple with these healthy ideas means you’ll be able to take picnics more often. You can enjoy the outdoors without worrying about what to eat. And you won’t have to rely on junk food to fuel your adventures.
Save this guide so you always have healthy snack ideas handy anytime you feel like packing up for a picnic. And be sure to share it with your friends too!
Author: Devan Ciccarelli
Email: devan@behappynothangry.com
Instagram/Facebook Group: @behappynothangry/Be Happy Not Hangry
Website: www.behappynothangry.com
