Picnics are great family outings for people watching their budgets. They can make your usual dinner a special event with just a little extra planning (but no extra cost!). Practicing good food safety is important for picnics, since you’ll be storing and eating food without the usual refrigeration or cleaning amenities you’re used to in a kitchen. Taking your meal to the local park or playground also encourages moving more, as your kids will want to run and play outdoors. Here’s a list of recipes and activities to help your family eat smart and move more at your next picnic.

Smart Choices for Family Picnics

Simple Appetizers

• Trail Mix
• Creamy Dill Dip with veggies

Healthy Side Dishes

• Tabbouleh
• Cucumber Tomato Rice Salad
• Cucumber Salad
• Carrot Apple Salad
• Black Eyed Pea and Corn Salad
• Brown Rice Pilaf
• Zucchini Au Gratin
• Potato Salad with Green Beans
• Orange Flavored Carrots
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Lemon Spinach
• Green Beans with Garlic
• Cole Slaw with Yogurt Dressing

Make-Ahead Main Dishes

• Chicken and Fruit Salad (grilled chicken tastes great in this recipe)
• Garden Vegetable Wrap
• Salmon Patties
• Tuna Apple Salad Sandwiches (make tuna salad ahead and assemble sandwiches when you’re ready to eat)
• Tuna Sea Shell Pasta

Smart Desserts

• Peanut Butter Balls (these can be made ahead, too)
• Fruit Kabobs with Yogurt Dip (recruit the kids to help assemble the kabobs)
• Easy Fruit Salad

Games and Activities to Move More

• Take a hike.
• Go for a bike ride or bike to your picnic.
• Burn off some energy by playing tag or hide and seek.
• Toss a Frisbee® or football or baseball around. For older kids, organize a game of ultimate Frisbee® or two-hand touch football.
• If you have a net, play badminton or volleyball.
• Challenge each other to a game of horseshoes, 벳엔드, or cornhole.
• Go for a swim or splash in a sprinkler.
• Fly a kite or chase bubbles.
• If you have a smartphone, try Geocaching or Pokemon Go.

July is National Picnic Month. Celebrate by planning a picnic with your family. Where will you go? How will you plan for a healthy family outing by eating smart and moving more?