National Picnic Week
The 22 June 2020 marks the start of National Picnic Week in the UK. The aim of the week is to try and encourage Britons to get outside to enjoy the fresh air, spend some quality time with friends and family, and enjoy some delicious food. While we all need to be mindful of the restrictions currently in place we can still take advantage of the tips and tricks from National Picnic Week for all different groups; families, friends or couples to make the most of our socially distanced picnics.
Some of their tips include: favourite scenic spots, activities to keep you and your family entertained, picnic décor and recipe ideas for all ages. All of which can be found online at nationalpicnicweek.co.uk
Picnic fun fact: ‘The French started the modern fashion for picnics when they opened their royal parks to the public after the revolution of 17891.’
Why go for a picnic?
A picnic is a great way to explore the beautiful country we live in, with many people probably unaware of the picturesque countryside that is available to the UK public. Research has shown that getting outside can be beneficial for our health and wellbeing2 as well as help give us our daily dose of vitamin D.
Another popular reason to get out for a picnic is the food! Below you will find some healthy picnic recipes and snack ideas that will not only satisfy you but also your gut.
Picnic fun fact: ‘The most popular picnic snack fifty years ago was the humble cheese sandwich. Now, it’s a bag of crisps1.’
Picnic food ideas: Love Your Gut
If sandwiches or sausage rolls don’t tickle your fancy, Love Your Gut have got your back! Here are a few of our favourite recipes that are guaranteed to jazz up any picnic.
Staples:
Side dishes:
- Potato and pastrami salad with dill and mustard
- Roasted red pepper, rosemary and sunflower seed or walnut, tomato and sage pâte with gluten free bread
Sweet treats:
- Carrot, almond and coconut cake
- Oat bran flapjack with coconut and sunflower seeds
- pineapple, banana and orange smoothie
Putting on an appetizing spread doesn’t have to break the bank or take hours, some alternative cheap and speedy options that are full of fibre, which will encourage the growth of good bacteria in your gut3, include: whole meal pasta or couscous salad with beans or lentils; fruit such as, strawberries, pears and apples; and vegetable crouton such as carrots, celery or peppers with a hummus dip.
With everything that is going on in the world at the moment, national picnic week is a great way to get outdoors, spend some quality time with your family and enjoy some delicious food.
With the current Covid-19 pandemic, we want to encourage you to enjoy National Picnic Week whilst maintaining social distancing rules. If you chose to have your picnic in a public place remember to keep a safe distance and practice good hand hygiene.
To find out how to get involved visit nationalpicnicweek.co.uk
References:
- National Picnic Week (2019). Available from: https://www.nationalpicnicweek.co.uk/facts.html
- Twohig-Bennet and Jones (2018) Environ Res 116:628-637. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.06.030
- BNF (2018). Available from: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/healthyliving/basics/fibre.html