As much as I love a good barbecue, there’s something fun about packing up a tasty picnic to enjoy in the sunshine – especially when July is National Picnic Month. The great news for slimmers is that we’ve got a basketful of healthy picnic food ideas for you to choose from. With Slimming World’s generous eating plan, you can have a day of outdoor fun and keep your weight loss firmly on track.
Many go-to picnic foods, like chicken drumsticks (skin removed), boiled eggs and potatoes, are Free with Slimming World, meaning you can eat them until you’re satisfied – no weighing, counting or measuring needed. Even better, we’ve got lightened-up versions of some classic choices, from sausage rolls to scotch eggs, over on the member website.
So whether you’re safely gathering in the garden or popping to the park, throw down a blanket and dig into our delicious picnic food ideas, including easy-to-share salads and quiches.
Slimming World picnic food ideas
Sandwiches are always a picnic winner and Fran (@slimwithsmee), who’s lost 4½st, has given her sarnies a crunchy twist by swapping bread for crispbread and topping with egg mayonnaise, as well as a refreshing salad of lean ham, tomatoes, cucumber and rocket.
If you fancy shaking up your salad choices, Slimming World chef Sal’s oriental green salad and coleslaw are ideal for sharing outdoors with your favourite people.
Dips and crudités are a great way to pack more veg into your picnics. @raes_slimming_world loaded her basket with slices of carrot, cucumber, peppers, gherkins and pitta bread to dip into her home-made Syn free houmous.
She says: “I also made Slimming World ‘Pimm’s’ which is just light lemonade with balsamic vinegar (don’t knock it til you’ve tried it) 🍹 Aaaand to top it all off, we got to eat it in the sunshine instead of in the living room!!”
If, like Rae, you fancy topping off your picnic with a low Syn tipple, you’ll find some refreshing slimming-friendly cocktail and mocktail ideas over on our members-only website and app.
Pasta is perfect picnic fare, and brilliant for using up any leftover lean cooked meat, fish or veggies – just chop them up and stir them in. Lamorna (@sw.lamornaparnel) has packed her pasta with lots of colourful vegetables and a squeeze of light cheese spread.
Slimming World member Chelle (@sw_chelle) put together this spectacular spread for her al fresco lunch, featuring some favourites like crustless quiche and filling scotch eggs. Chelle is a target member and has lost a fantastic 3½st – without ever having to miss eating out with her friends and family.
She says: “Today’s lunch is crustless quiche Lorraine, rainbow couscous, sweet chilli noodles, scotch eggs, boiled eggs, tomato, cucumber and carrot sticks. I used 2 tbsp sweet chilli sauce (be sure to check the Syn values using the food search on the member website and app – SW Matt) for the noodles.
And for those of you looking for a picnic pud that you can eat with your hands, a slice of our brilliant banana bread will go down a treat, no spoon or fork required.
Our members-only website and app are full of picnic food ideas, including our recipe for Syn free sausage rolls! Whether you join your local virtual group or Slimming World Online, you’ll have over 1,400 recipes at your fingertips – as well as all the recipe swapping, expert advice and slimming support you’ll get in virtual groups and our online community. Basically, there’s everything you need to enjoy a fully loaded picnic, without packing away your weight loss plans.
What’s in your picnic basket? We’d love to know what portable treats you’re having this summer! Send your picnic pics to the blog or share on social using #theSlimmingWorldblog