Low carb/low cal picnic

[Chubbybetty]

Hi all. My well of inspiration is dry - can you please give me your best ideas for low cab, fairly low calorie picnic foods please? Will probably take chopped cucumber, peppers,etc, and some cottage cheese. Maybe some cooked chicken, but would like something a bit more interesting that the other picnickers will also enjoy! Thank you.

Look up some salad ideas. On a hot day I love watermelon with feta and mint. Or maybe peach with mozzarella and basil. Classic of tomato, mozzarella and basil. You could add in some tinned chickpeas or butterbeans for protein or a small amount of cooked cous cous stirred through. . Easy to whip up your own hummus or make a beetroot and yoghurt with mint dip fro your crudités.
Take some boiled eggs too.

Who is asking for low carb and low cal picnic foods?

Low carb and low cal is a bit of a stretch, its easier to do one or the other

The problem with salady bits is that they dont travel well, the whole point of a picnic is that you're transporting the food to the outdoors, so a carrier of bread or pastry is usually the solution. Its why pies were invented, the pastry is the container, the tupperware (TUPPERWARE!) of its day to preserve and carry the meat or filling.

You could take hard boiled eggs, or a bowl of lentils and other grains mixed with salad, take the dressing separately but I would find that a nuisance to eat, you need a bowl or plate and a fork or spoon

You could make up various dips, but again the flavour enhancer and preserver (the oil) is high calorie.

You can take mini baby bel and some salami sausages, mini sausages, etc. If people are wanting to stay away from fat though they wont like that.

Cocktail sausages
Frittata/tortilla cut into squares
Cubes of cheddar
Cherry tomatoes

Low cal/ low carb she says!

Prosciutto, salami, black/green olives, various hard cheeses

Apart from the tomatoes these are not low cal or low carb.

But this is the problem, you can really only eat one or the other, not both.

Crustless quiche
Cottage cheese with cucumber sticks
Tomatos
Green salad
Pan fried broccoli tossed in olive oil
Chicken drum sticks
Coleslaw made with half yogurt half mayo and lemon juice.
Strawberries/raspberries
Cucumber and mint salad tossed in oil, sour cream/yogurt and dill.

As a pp has said low carb and low cal is a tall order!

I'm just giving some ideas - cheese cubes and cocktail sausages are small items so not too calorific per item. And people don't have to gorge on them!

Who doesnt gorge on cheese cubes!!!

Anyway, the suggestions above are somewhat joyless, including my own

Get the pork pies in!

Frittata and decent sausages are low-carb.

Maybe take some low carbon items and some low calorie items if you cant achieve both in one item. Then pick which you meal is focused on

I like hummus and those pimento peppers that get stuffed, I also like artichoke hearts which you could bring a tooth pick to up.

Could you make a quinoa salad? Throw in some finely chopped red onion, chickpeas, diced pepper, celery, lemon and fresh parsley or whatever herbs you have on hand etc. Maybe add sliced sun dried tomatoes. You’d need to take bowls and forks but it should travel ok. If you have time you could also make some slices of courgette basted in garlic chilli oil and seared in a very hot griddle. If you don’t overcook these will also travel.

Thanks all, some good ideas. For those asking who wants low cal/low carb on a picnic..... well me! (or anyone else who follows a low carb/low cal diet). I generally eat mainly lean proteins and veggies/salad, but just wondered if there were more imaginative picnic ideas. @greengreyblue I love the idea of that watermelon salad, thanks.

@soupyspoon think I know you from another thread? I agree that if there is a pile of strong cubed cheddar in front of me, it's irresistible.

Oh it’s so good!! If you crumble the feta obviously can use it more sparingly. Make sure it’s chilled and it’s so refreshing.

Frittata yes and also could be lowish cal
Sausages not low cal

OP is asking the impossible

I have it for work a lot, cucumber, watermelon, a really really nice feta, black olives as salty as you can get in olive oil, parsley and black pepper. Sometimes put a bit of tomato in or a bit of golden kiwi.

Im heavy on the cheese though

If it was a cheese thread then yes, that would be me!!!

I reckon you just need to push the boat out a bit for the picnic, you'll be ok.

Some tasty cooked chicken thighs or legs with one of the lovely salads. A pack of precooked tiger prawns with a squeeze of lemon. I used to love a picnic but the wasps are crazy this year. Hope they don’t bother you!

Thanks all! @soupyspoon, think you're on my weight loss thread for mildly chubby shorties, but I may be mistaken (will check). Great ideas all, thank you. I had busy day and not much time to shop so we have ended up with what I already had in - chicken breast with peri peri seasoning cooked in air-fryer, cruditè and reduced fat houmous, cottage cheese (Longly Farm, the only acceptable brand!), hard boiled eggs, homemade mini crustless quiches, chunks of cheddar (I concede not low cal) green seedless grapes and a bag of giant cheese puffs (Co-op version of watsits, for the others, not me). Another picnicker is also bringing other stuff so we'll all have loads to enjoy. Not perfect but as some of you encouraged me, let loose for the day. Loads of water too as v hot here (SE England).