Are desserts your job for the potluck picnic? You’re in luck! We’ve got treats for every kind of sweet tooth.
Cookies
Perfectly portioned and finger-licking good. Bring some fresh fruit along too – we suggest watermelon slices or a bushel of juicy peaches.
Almond Blueberry Cookies
Triple Chocolate Cookies
Brownies
Scratch the chocolate itch with these decadent delights. Bake a bunch and freeze for up to 6 months.
Made-Over Deep Dish Brownies
Food Network Kitchens’ Cheesecake Brownies (pictured above)
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Ready to serve up a new, fun summer salad for your Labor Day picnic or BBQ? You can easily add seasonal fruits and vegetables into a grain-based salad for a simple and flavorful dish. By sticking to fresh, whole and natural ingredients, you will be packing in the flavor to this quinoa salad. This dish is as quick as it is flavorful, and with all of the fresh strawberries and sweet honey mixed in, it is so satisfying on the dog days of summer.
Try this salad stuffed into a pita, or serve it on a bed of greens for a light supper. And at the height of bell pepper season, you can use it to fill hollowed-out red bell peppers for an elegant entree. Feel free to play around with this recipe; stepping into your farmers market will give you a whole new perspective of what else you can toss into this dish. No strawberries at the market? No problem. Fresh raspberries or blackberries are a sweet alternative. Not a fan of almonds? Pistachios are a sweeter alternative. If you’re planning on hosting a vegan guest, you can easily substitute agave nectar for the honey. Quinoa is a complete protein and a tasty gluten-free pasta-alternative that can be enjoyed by all.
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- Don't fill up on chips at your next picnic.
Some barbecue foods are healthy while others can bust your waistline. We asked expert dietitians from around the country which barbecue and picnic foods they tell their clients to avoid.
Chips
The Nutrition Twins Tammy Lakatos and Lyssie Lakatos, registered dietitians, personal trainers and authors of The Secret to Skinny said, “We tell our clients to watch out when they are munching on chips since it’s hard to stick to just one serving; it always turns into many handfuls. Plus, chips don’t satiate you and the salt makes you hungrier and thirstier–so you eat more and drink more and end up consuming a lot of extra calories.”
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- Before you reach for a second helping of strawberry shortcake, consider that you'd have to play tennis for 45 minutes to work it off.
Gearing up for grilling season? Don’t let too many high-cal favorites keep you from staying trim this summer. Here’s what you should keep in mind at your next picnic.
Crunching the numbers
Everyone burns calories a little differently, the values below are averages based on a 155-pound person.
Mains
1 foot long hot dog = 500 calories = 1 hour of swimming freestyle
1 cheeseburger = 400 calories = 75 minutes of kayaking
5-ounces BBQ ribs = 465 calories = 2 hours 15 minutes of body surfing
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- Creamy, but completely dairy free potato salad.
Even before I switched to a dairy-free diet, I wasn’t a fan of mayonnaise-drenched potato salads. There was something about seeing creamy side salads left out in the sun at summer picnics that never appealed to me. But I do love potatoes, since spuds are loaded with potassium and heart-healthy fiber, and what’s a picnic or BBQ without a potato salad? This recipe is perfect for your upcoming summer food festivities.
Instead of using a dairy-based mayo or yogurt for this potato salad, I tried protein-packed hummus. Its garlicky tang and creamy texture made the perfect coating for baby red potatoes. After serving this dish at a BBQ to two relatives who claimed to dislike hummus, they were converted! Nobody could detect that the dressing was bean-based, and I was pleased to provide a vegan side dish that provided some protein, too.
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- Ellie Krieger's Grilled Vegetable Salad With Feta and Mint
Fat-drenched side salads are the norm when it comes to cook-outs. But lighten up the dressing and you’ll be able to savor those delicious spring flavors—fresh fruit, veggies, and herbs—in every bite. Here are 26 side dishes that’ll make your mouth water– all for less than 250 calories per serving.
Grilled Veggie Sides
Toss those farmers’ market finds or extra veggies in your CSA box right on the grill. It’s a perfectly simple way to enjoy fresh veggies.
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- Are you cooking out today?
Happy Labor Day! It’s time to have one last picnic before summer officially ends. Of course you can still cook out before it gets cold, but it’s the last long holiday weekend where you’ll have an extra day to relax and entertain. To get you ready for your end-of-summer bash, a round-up of our most popular picnic posts:
Summer Picnic Menu
Which is Healthier, a Hot Dog or a Hamburger?
5-Ingredient Broccoli Salad
Top Picnic Salads
Host a Healthier Cookout
Potato Salad, Lightened Up
8 Grilling Safety Tips You Need to Know
Safety Tips: Packing Food for Your Cookout
Labor Day Cookout Menu
How are you celebrating the last weekend of summer?
- Can you still have one of these on a healthy diet?
On Labor Day weekend, many families will be firing up the grill to cook . . . you guessed it: hot dogs. 95% of American households eat hotdogs (we consume over 20 billion a year). Hot dogs are notoriously high in fat/saturated fat and sodium and most only have about an ounce of protein. So, I bet you’re wondering how you can enjoy your Labor Day cook-out and be health conscious? Here are some tips to a better ‘dog.
Choose a hot dog that is lower in fat (less than 10 g of total fat and 5 g of saturated fat) and sodium (less then 500mg). Look for light or reduced fat versions; fat-free versions usually add more sodium for flavor. Here are some brands that fit the bill.
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- Yellow Trio Salad: tomatoes, corn and yellow squash.
Beat the heat of the season with a light, refreshing, summer salad! It’s finally time for some really fresh produce. Experiment with seasonal fruits and vegetables from your local farmer’s market. Next time you go to a neighborhood barbeque use these tips and bring a salad that will leave your friends wanting more than just hot dogs and hamburgers.
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- Robin's Firey Turkey Burger With Avocado and Jack Cheese
Lighten up this year’s July 4th party with a winning menu: spicy turkey burgers piled high with creamy avocado, grilled sweet corn with tangy lime butter, Asian-inspired slaw with crunchy noodles, and a spruced-up, modern version of strawberry shortcake. Bye-bye gluttonous get-together fare!
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