What to Pack for a Paleo/Whole 30 Picnic

Summer was made for picnics, and everything that comes with it—gingham dresses, citronella candles, and that perfect sunset magic hour. Sadly, the end of summer is fast approaching! There are certainly a few things left on my bucket list that I'm still hoping to accomplish... more picnicking is definitely one of those things.

As we've been following a mostly paleo lifestyle, it can be tricky to find alternatives for picnic staples like sandwiches and crackers. But I've tried a few new things this summer! Out of my attempts, I've settled on a go-to collection of grain-free picnic options.

Menu Ideas

• An easy favorite is to replace sandwich bread with lettuce wraps. The ingredients for the sandwich can stay nearly the same, just swap the bread for a leaf of iceberg lettuce or romaine hearts.

• For a picnic, a glass of wine is a classic choice. However, if you're interested in trying something different, a cucumber cooler can be the perfect alternative. Simply blend together a cucumber (peeled partially), juice from one lime, 1/3 cup of honey (or sweetener of choice), 3 cups of ice, and 1/2 cup of water. It blends together in a pretty, frothy iced drink!

• Salads make a great outdoor dinner, and they're easy to prepare ahead of time.

• I recently discovered eggplant sandwiches, and they changed my picnic basket. Just slice the eggplant and bake it, then use it in place of sandwich bread.

Trying the Paleo Thing

A couple months ago, the mister suggested going paleo. The very simplified definition is a diet without grains, corn, beans, or refined sugars. Dedicated paleo enthusiasts also cut out dairy, but we're not very careful about that.

Nearly every day, we both have one of these green smoothies.

The most simple version is just:

1 banana

1 c. almond milk

1 handful fresh spinach or kale (spinach is sweeter)

a few ice cubes

From there, you can add in all sorts of things... frozen or fresh berries, nut butter, protein powder, and all manner of goodness to make it as filling as you like. It can serve as breakfast, brunch, post workout refreshment, or as a good mid-afternoon pick-me-up to get in lots of greens.

Although we started a modified version of the paleo diet for fun, it has quickly become a lifestyle. Maple syrup, honey, and stevia took the place of sugar. As much as I love bread, giving up grains has been easier than expected. We eat lots of burgers, fish, veggies, sweet potato fries, and eggs. When we're eating such yummy food for brunch and dinner, it's hard to feel like I'm missing out.

Having limitations makes me more creative in the kitchen, too. For example, who knew all the ways a person can prepare cauliflower? It has become a staple in this apartment.

The food is good, nutritious, and generally easy to prepare.

But perhaps my favorite part is that it encourages us to eat at home. Actually, this alone would be enough for me to keep up the crazy paleo thing. It causes pre- and post-dinner conversation in addition to sitting down at the table for a little bit each day.