Healthy Picnic Ideas the Whole Family Will Love

At GreenJinn, we believe healthy living should be a piece of cake (not literally). That’s why we’re bringing you these easy, healthy picnic ideas.

Say no to soggy cocktail sausages and rubbery scotch eggs. Give these minimum effort, maximum flavour recipes a go for a stress-free, nutrient-packed picnic.

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Sausage rolls are a staple of any picnic worth its salt. However, you might want to forgo your regular processed sausage meat for something lighter, tastier and healthier.

We’ve taken a few shortcuts so you can whip these up with minimal fuss.

Ingredients

• 6 Vegan sausages
• 320 g Ready-rolled puff pastry
• 1 tbsp Sesame seeds
• 2 tbsp Soya milk milk
• 1 tbsp Plain flour

Method

1. Cut the pastry between sausage rows so you end up with three sheets.
2. Roll the pastry over the sausages, and press down to seal the edge.
   
3. Cut slits across the top of each roll diagonally with a knife.
   
4. Brush with soya milk.
   
5. Chill the rolls for about 30 minutes in the fridge. Whilst preheating the oven to 180ºC (fan).
6. Cut the rolls into individual sausage rolls (you can cut them as big or small as you want).
7. Place on a baking tray (oiled or lined with greaseproof paper).

Stuffed Italian Sandwich

Ingredients

• 1 loaf Sourdough bread
• 50g Salami (sliced)
• 8 slices Mozzarella cheese
• 1 can black olives (drained)
• 1 tsp Oregano
• 200g Spinach leaves

Method

1. Remove top 1/4 of loaf and hollow out the bread using fingers.
2. Layer ingredients in hollowed-out bread to your liking.
   
3. Replace the top back onto the loaf.
4. Place a baking sheet on top of loaf. Rest heavy object on top – around 4kg should do.
5. Leave for 30 mins. Then slice into wedges and serve.

Avocado Hummus

Ingredients

• 400g Canned chick peas, well drained { Save the aquafaba for later }
• 2 medium ripe avocados, cored and peeled
• 50g Coriander Leaves
• 4 Tbsp Water
• 1 1/2 Tsp tahini { Sesame Seed Paste }
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• 1 large clove garlic, peeled & crushed
• Salt to taste
• 1 Tsp Cumin
• 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• Toppings/ Garnishing
• Olive oil
• 1 Tbsp chopped coriander – finely chopped or with stalk
• Red pepper flakes
• Chickpeas

Method

1. Drain the chickpeas well and rinse. Reserve at least 3 tbsp chickpeas for topping. (Keep you aquafaba from you chickpea can – you can use it to make this delicious dessert).
2. Blend all the remaining ingredients together in a blender/ processor until smooth.
3. Taste and add more lemon juice, garlic or salt as needed.
4. Transfer the Avocado Hummus into a bowl. Garnish with an extra drizzle of olive oil, chickpeas, coriander leaves and red pepper flakes.

Simple, Tasty Falafels

Healthy, quick and easy – whats not to love about these fuss-free falafels?

Eat them on their own, dip in your avocado hummus or stuff into a pita bread or wrap.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 Onion (chopped)
• 1 Garlic clove (crushed)
• 1 can Chickpeas
• 2 tsp Cumin
• 1 Lemon, zest (grated)
• 1 tsp Salt and black pepper
• 1 Egg (beaten)

Method

1. Heat 1 tbsp of olive oil in a pan. Fry onion for 3 mins. 
2. Add garlic and heat for another 2 mins.
3. Drain and rinse chickpeas. Pour in mixing bowl and add garlic and onion and mash until one texture.
4. Mix in cumin, lemon zest, egg and salt/pepper.
5. Divide mixture into 15 balls. Leave in fridge for 20mins.
6. Pour over 1 tbsp of oil. Cook in 200F oven for 25 mins. Turn half way through.

Thai Papaya Salad

If shrivelled, shop-bought salads aren’t your thing, give this tangy, spicy Thai salad a spin. We’ve gone for the vegan version to save you a time and so that everyone can enjoy.

Feel free to give it as much of a kick as you can handle 🌶️

Ingredients

• 2 cups Green papaya (grated – don’t include the skin)
• 1/4 cup Green beans (chopped)
• 1 Carrot (grated)
• 2 tbsp Soy sauce
• 8 Cherry tomatoes (halved)
• 3 cloves garlic (diced)
• 1 Green or red chilis (diced)
• 2 Limes (juice)
• 1 tsp Agave nectar)
• 2 tbsp Peanuts

Method

1. Combine all ingredients (except peanuts) and toss.
2. Chill for around 2 hrs.
3. Add peanuts and serve cold.