Spring just screams picnic time. After all, who wouldn’t want to enjoy the beautiful weather and celebrate the sun coming out with friends and family? And to make the picnic just right, we have four healthy spring picnic recipes that’ll leave you feeling full and satisfied, using the best produce spring has to offer.
1. Pineapple salsa
You don’t have to save fruit for a yummy fruit juice or cocktail. Use the pineapple to add some flavour and zest to your savoury meals like in this pineapple salsa. They can be served with anything, from tacos to fajitas to burrito bowls. But they can also stand on their own, paired with tortilla chips. Find the recipe here.
Pineapple
Pineapples are so in season this spring and it’s now that they are at their peak. Pineapples will be at their juiciest and sweetest so it’s definitely best to take advantage of them now. Not only that, but they’re so good for you. They are low-calorie and packed with nutrients that’ll contribute to your health.
Pineapples have vitamin C and manganese, so they’ll benefit your immunity, iron absorption, growth and metabolism. It also contains antioxidants that protect and strengthen your heart, reducing your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
2. Healthy Turkish meatloaf
If you want a healthy and filling picnic meal, then try this lamb meatloaf. It’s full of flavour, has vegetables and is easy to take with you on a day out. Find the recipe here.
Lamb
It’s not just fruits and vegetables that are seasonal. In spring, lamb comes into the season. This meat is rich in protein, which is essential for supporting muscle growth, repair and recovery. In fact, it’s a complete protein, meaning that it contains all nine types of amino acids that you need to get from food.
Lamb also contains iron, zinc and vitamin B12, and has a much higher omega-3 content compared to most other meat.
3. Turkey, apple and brie sandwich
Sandwiches are a classic picnic meal which can get boring after a while but not this one. This turkey, apple and brie is a cacophony of flavour and textures that just seem to work. Turkey is a leaner meat that has a lower-fat content than others. However, bear in mind when cooking it that it can cause the meat to dry out much faster. Find the recipe here.
Turkey
If lamb doesn’t take your fancy, then turkey is also in season this spring. Turkey is an excellent lean meat for hitting your protein intake. It has a high protein and low-fat content and supplies all of the nine essential amino acids as well.
It’s also rich in B vitamins, especially B3, B6 and B12, and is a source of zinc and iron. Overall, it supports muscle growth and repair as well as red blood cells and energy production. To keep it low-fat though, don’t eat the skin.
4. Strawberry rhubarb bars
On its own, people may find rhubarb a bit on the sour side. But this healthy spring recipe combines strawberries and rhubarb, for a sweet/tart balanced dessert. Find the recipe here.
Strawberry and Rhubarb
As well as pineapple, strawberries and rhubarb are two other spring seasonal fruits.
Strawberries are loaded with vitamin C antioxidants. It also is a source of magnesium, fiber and potassium. They protect you against heart disease, diabetes, strokes and some forms of cancer. They are great for anti-ageing and helping your skin look and feel younger.
Rhubarb is an excellent source of vitamin K. This vitamin is necessary to ensure your bone health is at the top of its game. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and like strawberries, can protect against heart disease, cancer and diabetes.