By: Lauren McRae

If you're looking for a fun summer activity this weekend (while social distancing), pack up a cooler, lawn chairs and your favorite blanket and head to your nearest park or the beach for a picnic. 

If you're unsure of which dishes to pack, don't stress, we did the work for you. Most of these picnic recipes can be prepared the day before or the morning of with minimal work. As for packing up? We recommend a cooler, ice packs, and plenty of Tupperware. A little foil comes in handy, too!

Lori Bumbaco, Oncology Dietitian at NorthShore’s Kellogg Cancer Center offers these tips for packing the perfect picnic:

1. Remember food safety: Make sure food has completely cooled before packing it up in containers.
2. Pack foods in sealable containers to avoid spills and basket messes.
3. Don't forget napkins, plates or utensils
4. Keep things cold. Do leave food out for more than 4 hours.
5. Most importantly: Make lots of food, take your time and enjoy the beautiful warm weather.

Recipe ideas: 

What to Drink:

• Fruit-Infused Water: Stay hydrated with calorie-free and flavorful infused waters. The combinations are endless, but here are some inspirations. 

Sides:

• Healthy Dill Potato Salad with Greek Yogurt: Kick heavy mayo loaded potato salad to the curb with this lightened up version perfect for any picnic.
• Colorful Tahini Coleslaw: Ditto for this grown-up version of coleslaw that uses a surprise nutritional star, tahini! 
• Chickpea and Couscous Side Salad: Some of the most nourishing recipes are the most simplistic. Enjoy the protein and fiber-packed nutrition in this chickpea and couscous salad.

Main Dish:

Grilled Veggie Skewers: Packed with protein, vitamins C and A, and healthy fats for your heart health, these grilled vegetable skewers are not one to miss.

Dessert:

• Plant-Based and Nutrient-Dense Chocolate Pudding: No picnic is complete with a tasty treat! Avocados are the star in this easy-to-make, delicious dessert.