Friday's Food

If the warmer weather is prompting you to go for a picnic, try these smart ideas to stay frugal and fit on your picnic!

Crackers and Cheese- This old staple can be made more healthy by simply opting for light cheese and light crackers. A favorite of FitBritt's is the Laughing Cow Light Cheese. These individual cheese wedges are only 35 calories a wedge and 2 grams of fat. They also have lots of flavors like French Onion, Garlic and Herb, Blue Cheese and more! Visit the Laughing Cow's website for more information (and also some yummy recipes using their cheese). As for crackers, most brands offer a low-fat versions of your old favorites but two great options are Health Valley's Garden Herb crackers and Carr's Table Crackers which come in a variety of flavors and have few calories and are low in fat.

Fruit- This is always a great way to fill up on a picnic. Try seasonal fruit because it will be the cheapest and the best tasting. A few good options are berries such as raspberries, strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, chopped watermelon or pineapple, grapes, sliced apples, pears or peaches. Try combining them for a yummy fruit salad. Another great option is combining sliced strawberries with some fresh mint, a splash of lemon juice and a pinch of sugar for a sweet treat!

Lean Sandwiches- To best satisfy your appetite you should give yourself small portions of a lot of different tastes rather than a large serving of one dish. Making a number of different mini sandwiches for a group is a great way to do this. Try buying a baguette and making small slices or cut sandwich bread into smaller portions and then experiment away! Keep your meats to low-fat (like ham, turkey, chicken) and order low-sodium from the deli if you are watching your sodium intake. Then try interesting spreads like olive tapenade, hummus (try a flavor like roasted red pepper or jalapeno) or mashed avocado. Keep your spreads light, the purpose is to add flavor not calories. Then load on veggies like tomatoes, watercress or arugula or lettuce, sprouts, shredded carrots or cabbage, cucumber or peppers.

Dessert- Yes you can have dessert! A bar of dark chocolate split among friends is a heart healthy option. Or try angel food cake. You can pick up a pre-made cake at a local grocery and just add sliced strawberries and fat free whip cream! Meringue cookies are also a great and healthy dessert.

Fit Tip: Don't forget that a picnic is a great time to get active as well! Bring along a frisbee or a soccer ball or a football to toss around with friends or just take a stroll through your local part looking for a perfect place to park your picnic!