I hope everyone’s summer is moving along well! One of my favorite parts of summer is getting outside and having a picnic! Did you know that being outside is good for your health? It’s true! Going vegetarian or vegan is also another great thing you can do to be healthy this summer. So, get off the couch, grab a picnic blanket, and let’s get this picnic party started! Here are some of my favorite vegetarian and vegan recipes for summer picnics:
Summer Picnic Drinks
When the summer heat rises, I crave lots of ice-cold drinks. I want all of these spritzers, sodas and mocktails ASAP!
If you have an insulated cooler, there are tons of frozen drinks to try. Check out this vegan frozen coconut limeade or these awesome vegan milkshake recipes.
Summer Picnic Starters
Summer is such a fantastic time to make food, because there are so many wonderful fruits and veggies in season. Yum! To start my picnic food, I definitely want lots of dishes that celebrate the summer harvest. Did someone say citrus? This mixed citrus salad with feta and mint is too pretty to eat!
Another easy summer dish I like to make is to marinate halved mini heirloom tomatoes in balsamic vinaigrette. You can simply toss it together and let it marinate as you travel to your summer picnic place. Add feta, gorgonzola or goat cheese crumbles for more protein. This summer panzanella also sounds delicious.
Don’t forget the chips! You can’t have a summer party without this watermelon feta guacamole and strawberry salsa.
Summer Picnic Entrees
Summer picnics mean lots of finger foods. Who needs utensils, right?
My favorite vegetarian twist on classic summer picnic food is this delicious chickpea sandwich filling. It’s a healthier version of chicken salad sandwiches. Add some tomatoes, carrots, avocado, pickled slaw or a spicy kick to make it even better. It can easily be made vegan by switching mayo for Vegenaise® spread or homemade spicy vegan mayo. That substitution will also cut the cholesterol, fat and calories. Who said healthy can’t be yummy?
Pasta salad is another great picnic classic. Try this veggie pasta with artichokes and asparagus.
Summer Picnic Dessert
Can’t forget dessert! In the summer heat, I always like desserts that aren’t too rich or heavy. These lemon brownie bars sound so good. I also want to try out these lemon crinkle cookies. No Meat Athlete has some yummy-looking vegan lemon bars. Can you tell I like lemon? On the other hand, this beautiful berry ricotta galette is calling my name. So many choices!
Well, that’s what I’m serving up at my summer picnic. What are your favorite summer picnic recipes? Share them with me in the Comments section!