Sustainable and healthy spring picnic

Do you like picnics? We love it and we want to share with you our love for eating out now that the good weather is here with spring.

We are actually in favour of finding time to have picnics at any time of the year and for any meal , whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner or snack. We love group picnics, those where each person brings something to share with the rest; but also solo picnics, and we prepare them with great care, as if it were a date with oneself.

WHY A PICNIC CAN BE HEALTHIER

When we talk about a picnic, we are referring to eating outside the home, in the open air and with homemade food . And this already has many ingredients to make it a good action for our health .

If we eat out, but in restaurants, the healthy options are greatly reduced (depending on where we go) and we will also encounter more temptations, such as desserts with a lot of sugar, very tasty dishes, but very high in calories...

We don't want to demonize restaurant meals. We also like to go out, have our food prepared, try new and delicious things, enjoy flavors and company. We think there's time for everything. If you're a person who, for example, eats out frequently for work, think about whether it's an option to have those meals on a picnic instead of in restaurants , or at least some of them.

If you go on a picnic, you can bring food from home, prepared by you, and you can choose the foods that you know are good for you , cooked in your own way so that they are healthy. Later on we will give you ideas for meals to take from home.

You may already be one of those people who takes a lunch box to work and brings healthy options. But, do you go out to eat? If that is an option, we strongly encourage you to do so. Because eating in a park, in the countryside or on a simple bench in a square has benefits beyond eating healthy food cooked by you.

If it's not too hot, find a spot in the sun so that your body can benefit from the much-needed vitamin D we lack. Observe your surroundings, make this moment about more than just nutrition (which is no small feat). Get out of the office, put your phone away and connect with your surroundings: listen to sounds, observe animals, plants, people, look at the sky, feel the ambient temperature, taste your food... Being present in the moment can generate great emotional well-being . Don't tell me you don't feel like it.

PICNIC ALONE OR IN COMPANY?

If you go out to eat alone , you can create a whole ritual and turn mealtime into a date with yourself. I'm sure you deserve it. How many opportunities do you have in your daily life to dedicate time exclusively to yourself? It could be the perfect moment.

But eating out in company is also wonderful. What if this weekend you go out with your family to a nice park and have a snack there? Preparing a picnic with your family can be a great moment of connection. Do you eat with your colleagues at the office? What if you propose to have a picnic once a week? Each person can bring food or something to share. And so on, every time you meet someone. Every time the situation arises, think about whether the picnic is a suitable proposal.

PICNIC ALL YEAR ROUND AND AT ANY TIME

With the good weather, eating out is more appealing. But, at least in Madrid, where we live, it is possible to have picnics at any time of the year . When it is cold, having lunch, dinner or a snack outside is a great option to revitalize our energy by sunbathing , which we have fewer hours available each day. If the cold is harsh, you may feel more like eating hot food. You can! It is a matter of being a little organized. You can heat up the food just before going out to eat ; or, if this is not an option, use thermoses like these or these that keep your food and drinks hot from the moment you leave the house until lunchtime .

When it's really hot, choose to have breakfast or dinner outside . You'll also be able to enjoy sunrises and sunsets . What more could you ask for? You'll escape the hot hours, but you'll also have the opportunity to connect with nature. For these moments, have isothermal bottles to drink cold drinks and opt for fresh, hydrating foods like salads or fruit.

HEALTHY FOOD IDEAS FOR PICNICS

We want to offer you ideas that go beyond cold cuts sandwiches.

• Jarred Salads

Fill the jar in layers with the ingredients you like, placing the moistest ones at the bottom. Set the dressing aside to add at the last minute.

• Spreads

Hummus of all kinds and vegetable patés (eggplant, olives, almonds, etc.) are very useful. You can make them yourself or buy them ready-made. You can accompany them with raw vegetables or toasted bread and they are delicious.

• Sandwiches or snacks

They are perfect for when you need a quick, ready-made meal. Use your imagination and fill them with healthy foods, like the pâtés mentioned above, and get away from the typical sausages.

• Creams, purees, soups or stews

They'll be great for cold days. Take them in a thermos and enjoy eating them in the sun. How wonderful!

• Tortillas

Any kind. They are great because they hold up well during transport and are delicious both hot and cold.

• Empanadas and savory pastries

Use your imagination and fill them with whatever you like. They can also be eaten cold and are always a hit.

• Natural nuts

Avoid unhealthy snacks with nuts. They are delicious and healthy.

• Homemade infusions and soft drinks

Prepare your favourite drinks and put them in an insulated bottle to keep them warm, whether hot or cold. Enjoy!

• Fruits already cut and peeled

It's hard to resist this. Having the fruit ready is a great way to get anyone to eat it. Yum!

• Healthy sweets

Make your own cookies, cakes or pastries. Here is the recipe for some delicious chocolate rocks . We owe you the recipe for the pumpkin pie that Ana makes and that you have asked us for. We will have it soon.

ZERO WASTE BASICS FOR A PICNIC

With a little prior planning, you can make your picnics sustainable and waste-free . As far as possible, avoid buying food from vending machines or supermarkets with a takeaway section , as these products are usually over-packaged and generate a lot of waste. You see, we are committed to you taking food from home to make it easier, not only to eat healthier, but also to generate less waste.

We don't want you to take the house with you, but we are going to suggest some things that we think are essential and that can avoid the consumption of single-use products. Our picnic essentials:

• Tablecloth and/or towels

This way we avoid disposable paper tablecloths and have a clean and delimited space to put the food.

• Cloth bags

A tote bag is a great way to carry all your picnic essentials. You can organize the inside with small bags like these so that everything fits better. It would also be a good idea to use one of these bags to collect any waste that may have been generated.

• Reusable food carriers

At Alma Eko we have many types and we don't know which one we like the most. You can choose from lunch boxes, snack holders, wax wrappers, sandwich holders that also serve as tablecloths... You have all the options here .

• Isothermal bottles and thermoses

As we have already mentioned, they are ideal for transporting drinks and food and keeping them cold or hot, depending on what you need. Take a look at our bottles, glasses and thermoses and let us know if you can choose, hehe.

• Reusable cutlery

This may not be a must-have. What I mean is that the cutlery you normally use at home is perfectly fine. What we want is for you to rule out disposable options. You can bring your cutlery from home or have a set for out and about, like these. They are ideal for eating out because they are more compact and you can easily carry them in your bag or backpack and always have them available.

• Cloth napkins or handkerchiefs

Don't forget them! Bring tissues or cloth napkins always at hand. The truth is that you may need them at any time, not just at mealtime. They are reusable, washable and do not generate waste.

What do you think of our suggestions? Do you feel like having picnics? Do you already do them frequently?