Picnic Perfect Recipes

Picnics are nostalgic and fun and can be a perfect way to enjoy the outdoors with friends and family! Here are a few easy tweaks to keep your next picnic heart healthy.

Tip #1: Choose an active destination

Making picnic dates that involve movement is an easy way to incorporate exercise into your day. Many parks offer outdoor walking tracks or even free classes such as yoga or tai chi. Try pairing one of these activities before or after your next picnic date.

Tip #2: Keep your food safe

Special care is required when preparing, cooking and storing food, especially during the warmer months. Here are some simple tips to keep your food safe:

• Always keep perishable foods well refrigerated in a cooler or with ice packs.

• Avoid handling food in the outdoors by cutting or preparing it before you leave home.

• Ensure hands are washed thoroughly before and after handling food.

• Always use separate plates and equipment to handle raw foods.

• Throw away any perishable food that’s been left at room temperature for over two hours.

For more information regarding food safety outdoors visit: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/food-safety-outdoors

Tip #3: Pack a heart healthy menu

There are lots of options for what food to pack on a picnic, but if you are aiming to bring tasty heart healthy options, here a few suggestions:

Tuna Avocado Rice Paper Rolls See recipe here	Savoury Muffins See recipe here
Salmon & Polenta Pikelets See recipe here	Guacamole See recipe here
Banana Chia Pots with Mango & Passionfruit See recipe here	Chilli Soy Roasted Nuts See recipe here
Spinach Hummus with Turkish Toasts See recipe here	Banana Bread with Blueberries See recipe here
Apple and Cinnamon Muffins See recipe here	For more recipes, you can visit https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/recipes/ Happy picnicking!