Amazing photo by Leo Kowal from SVG Cuts
Have a picnic for our planet, specifically, this coming Sunday on April 22nd – Earth Day. Even if you are in Portland and it is POURING rain. You should have a picnic.
The Nature Conservancy, a non-profit organization, seeking to conserve our Earth’s land and water is hosting a Picnic for the Planet event on April 22, 2012. You can see if there is going to be a picnic hosted near you, have a picnic in a park near your home or even in your backyard. Get outside and be grateful for the planet you live on! After all, it sustains you and over 7 billion other peeps. If you are in the Portland area and interested, the picnic will be at Mt. Tabor, please rsvp to orvolunteers@tnc.org.
Random Picnic Tips:
- Think about walking, riding your bike, or taking public transportation to your picnic. Pick an option that’s good for your health as well as that of the planet.
- Bring your own reusable silverware and dishes. Camping dishes aren’t just for camping – we have some pop-able silicon based camp-ware and the base makes a great cutting board and then they ‘pop’ up into bowls. All can be transported back home for clean-up.
- Bring cloth napkins and tea towels instead of paper towels (are you listening myself) 😉
- How are you going to transport all of this by foot/pedal/or other? It can be done, you just have to think ‘outside’ the car. We make use of our bigger backpacks or reusable grocery totes and tupper or glass ‘ware’.
- Remember to sit back, take a deep breath and look at the sky and trees – be thankful and reflect in the wonder that is nature.
- On our recent picnic to the beach, we didn’t have a picnic blanket but we did have a tarp which is even better for the beach. What can’t be shaken off (most of it can) can easily be rinsed off later.
- Invite family and friends – not only is ‘more the merrier’, but it helps a good idea spread to others.
If you are looking for healthy and delicious food ideas for your picnic, check out some of my suggestions below.
Mixed Asian Slaw Salad (Raw Vegan)
Vanilla Cinnamon Citrus Salad (Raw Vegan)
Ranch Potato Salad (Vegetarian)
Carrot Tri-Bean Salad of the East
I highly recommend bringing a salad, they are great vessels for adding tons of veggies to your meal and can be anything but boring (as you can see above). Think about using thinly sliced Swiss chard, kale, and collards along with or in place of spinach and romaine. Using those 2 heartier greens means you can mix the dressing in ahead of time without fear of opening a wilted mess.
Wraps♥Boats♥Other
Guacamole and Barbecue Filled Cucumber Boats (Vegan)
Fiesta Kidney Beans and Quinoa
Pick and Choose from these delicious collard wraps (click pictures)
Apple Peanut Butter Sandwiches
Wraps using collards, Swiss chard leaves, or other leaves are another smart and ‘green’ way to eat and transport your veggies. You could even make one of the above salads and pack it into a collard leaf while at the picnic. These could be made ahead and transported or filled on site – whichever is easier. If you want the simple route, go for the banana and peanut butter collard wrap – it is beyond amazing. Grain-free lunch anyone?
The boats are also picnic perfect. Cucumbers can be hollowed out at home and filled at the park.
Desserts
Chocolate Vanilla Cinnamon Raw Vegan Brownies
Mint Chocolate Brownie Pie (Raw Vegan)
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough No-Bake Bars (Raw Vegan)
Any of these desserts would be phenomenal and the great thing about these ‘raw’ bars and brownies, they take less than 10 minutes from make to devour. Perfect for picnics.
I hope you enjoy the plethora of options! It made me hungry revisiting all of these posts.
What is your favorite healthy item to bring on a picnic? I think the cucumber boats and any of the salads. We recently went to the coast for an Easter picnic on the beach (thank you Zipcar) and I made an Asian themed salad using mizuna greens, parsley, cilantro, and spinach. It was a perfect beach lunch and certainly had the seagulls intrigued.
xoxo
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