We love a good picnic here at Allergy Test Australia, and we can enjoy them even with an intolerance. – what could be better than enjoying the great outdoors whilst dining al fresco? If you’re well-equipped with the right foods then it can really lift your mood.
You don’t even have to do anything too elaborate – you could simply pack up a salad and some snacks, armed with a picnic blanket and your close friends or family. However, you shouldn’t fall into the trap of buying shop-bought snacks as they may contain hidden ingredients that will make your intolerance symptoms rear their ugly head.
Here we’re sharing our picnic-friendly ideas so that you can make the most of dining in the sunshine:
The Main Dish
For the main dish, depending on the size of your picnic party, why not take a whole cooked chicken? A healthy meat packed with protein, butter your chicken up with olive oil, cracked black pepper, sea salt and chopped garlic – even adding a sprinkle of chilli flakes if you have a taste for spicy food. If you’re a vegetarian then why not try some pre-cooked vegetable skewers? Adding mushrooms, tomatoes and roasted peppers.
Side Dishes
Salads are the perfect accompaniment to any picnic dish – choose your leafy greens, then add cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, chopped basil and black pitted olives. Try making your own salad dressings from home and storing them in small mason jars – this means you avoid any ingredients, such as wheat, that shop-bought salad dressings may include. We love mixing 6 tablespoons of olive oil with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar, adding a pinch of sea salt and a pinch of black pepper to create a delicious balsamic dressing.
Snacks
For a healthy snacking option, why not make your own dip and enjoy with carrots, celery, peppers and radish to dip? A houmous or tzatziki would be a great accompaniment to your main dish – there are some amazing recipes online that are completely intolerant-friendly! You could also try a homemade slaw, which is much healthier than shop-bought slaws. Chop 2 carrots, 1 small white cabbage and 1 small onion and mix with 2 tablespoons of fat-free yoghurt and 1 tablespoon of grainy mustard. Add sea salt and pepper to taste – it really is that simple!
Dessert
Dessert is where you can be a little bit indulgent if you wish! Depending on how many guests you have at your picnic party, you could make a big sweet cherry pie – with a gluten-free base if you struggle with gluten products – or even some chocolate brownies. You can switch the egg in the brownies for avocado as a binding ingredient if you’re intolerant to eggs. There are many great alternatives out there so that you can still indulge in your favourite sweet treats without experiencing your intolerance symptoms.
Need some help in understanding your results? Looking for clarity on which foods you should begin to eliminate from your diet? Want to see if you have a food intolerance? We can help! Our customer service team are available on Live Chat 24 hours a day, 5 days a week and will be more than happy to help. www.allergytestaustralia.com
