Picnics, the classic British summer tradition. One that we love, but have no idea when we’ll be able to do again. Yet another cherishable activity ruled out by coronavirus. BUT, who said you even have to leave the confinements of your home to have a picnic? Whether you’re lucky enough to have a garden or small terrace, or you’ve got no outside space at all, you can still set the scene for an enjoyable picnic with your quarantine crew at home.

If you’re reading this and thinking; “but how can I stay healthy when a picnic consists of sandwiches, crisps, dips and chocolate magnums?”. Well, we are here to provide some serious healthy picnic inspo! Re-examining your diet and eating healthier (both at home and on the go) should never mean you have to skip these special occasions or give up foods you love. It just means being organised, a little savvy and making sure you set yourself up to make the right choices. Remember life is all about balance! We’re sharing with you the healthier alternatives to some of those picnic favourites that we know you’ll love just as much.

Pimp your SANDWICHES
A picnic staple we would never want to go without is the good’ol sandwich! If you’re wondering how it’s possible to have healthy and sandwich in the same name then think again! There are loads of blogs and Instagram pages dedicated to making healthy eating delicious, many of which feature inventive recipes to replace their unhealthy counterparts. @rawmanda posts the most delicious vegan sandwich recipes, which are vibrant and full of colour! We also love Madeleine Shaw’s Cauliflower Bagels which you can customise with any toppings you like!

Pimp your CRISPS & DIPS
It’s estimated that Brits consume a heart-stopping 6 billion packets of crisps a year (that’s about 150 packets each!). Picnics are often laden with crisps, but they are high in unhealthy saturated fat and nutritionally empty. Try making the easy swap to oatcakes or vegetable crisps like Emily Veg Crisps. We’ve recently discovered Karma Bites which are made out of popped lotus seeds and sprinkled with pink Himalayan salt. Delish! Dips, paired with vegetable crudités can make the perfect picnic snack, not only delicious and satisfying but super easy to transport when on the go. Creamy dips found at the supermarket are usually made with high-fat vegetable oils and added sugars, so aren’t quite the health-conscious decision you thought you were making. Hummus, on the other hand, is packed full of chickpea goodness, heart-healthy fats from olive oil and tahini. But why go with traditional hummus? Many grocery shops like Planet Organic do scrumptious combos like avocado or turmeric hummus! With all-natural ingredients and no hidden nasties, you’re on to a healthy picnic winner!

Pimp your DRINKS
Picnics drinks vary, and whilst it’s nice to have a cool glass of sparkling lemonade or treat yourself to some Pimms once in a while, too much sugar is never a good thing. So, to keep it fresh and fun, stock up on Cocoface coconut water, Remedy Kombucha if you want a little fizz or Atopia if you want to get creative with some low ABV mocktails! The great thing about Cocoface is they just use raw, pure and REAL coconuts, no nasties and no pasteurising! This means they don’t heat their coconut water to prolong its shelf life so it retains all the natural nutritional components. Remedy Kombucha is a fizzy live-cultured drink that’s good for your gut and doesn’t compromise on flavour! Their brewing process removes the sugar content so you know you’re drinking something good for your body! Atopia is an ultra-low alcohol spirit at 0.5% ABV. Atopia is made from natural distillates, extracts and flavours to create a new generation of spirits.

Pimp your SWEET TREATS
Scones are a classic afternoon picnic treat which your picnic basket shouldn’t be without so we’d highly recommend whipping up a batch of these healthy gluten-free scones topped with a new discovery, this Raspberry, Cardamom & Chia Jam from Delushious.  No one should have to turn down a refreshing ice cream on a hot summer’s afternoon – but before you start buying tubs of Ben & Jerry’s, you’re going to want to check out Booja Booja  ice cream. With some incredible flavours such as “Hunky Punky Chocolate” and “Caramel Pecan Praline”, they are made with minimal and natural ingredients and without the use of dairy! For traditional popsicles, we love Lickalix and Miiro for a healthy (just as tasty) alternative to magnums which you can buy in Planet Organic and Wholefoods or Ocado online.

Now we’ve given you all the advice you need to have a Hip and Healthy at-home picnic this summer!

Read more: 9 Healthy Ice Cream Recipes