Insider guide on how to create a healthy stress-free summer picnic plus a watermelon salad recipe!

A couple of weeks ago, I hosted a summer picnic with my friends Maria, Rebecca, Kayla, and Liz before some of us separated. It was such a fun time enjoying each other's company while eating delicious food! The biggest reason why we were able to enjoy the moment before the big farewell was because it was stress-free!

Now, it seems like it can be tiresome setting a time, location, menu and actually prepping the food but I have some secrets that can make this picnic experience pretty fun and stress-free! If you are wanting to host your first summer picnic, here is what you need to know to make this as stress-free as possible:

KEEP IT SIMPLE

From the decorations to the menu, keep it simple, simple, simple! The summertime is the best season to host a picnic because the flowers are blooming and the grass is green - what’s great is that you don’t even have to pay for it!

Another way to keep your decorations simple is by using things you already own. By doing a quick scan around the house, I was able to scrounge up blankets, trays, plates, forks and mason jars that had a simple color scheme that reflected summer colors. So not only are you using your environment for decorations, you are also using things you already own so a win-win on the wallet!

What’s great about the summer is that it’s hot so people typically like to eat lighter, more refreshing type foods. This will make creating the menu that much easier!

SERVE YOURSELF

I could literally devote an entire page on food allergies from all five of us combined, but I will refrain. With that said, you will most likely have someone in your group with a food allergy/sensitivity. This may seem a little overwhelming as your creating the menu, but if you create simple dishes and give them the opportunity to serve themselves then it puts the pressure off of you.

A charcuterie board is a prime example. A charcuterie board mostly consist of a variety of meat and cheeses, with fruits and nuts. You can also cater to your board to your friend’s palettes. My board was kept pretty simple as I had to be sensitive to food allergies but even though one of my friends is allergic to nuts, I was able to separate the nuts by keeping them in their own bowl.

My classic healthy chicken salad is a great main dish that is simple and can be catered to preference. This chicken salad is always a hit in the office so I knew it would be great for the picnic! Again, there were allergies so I just simply omitted the carrots and sunflower seeds and kept the spices neutral and it was still a great main dish! If you have friends that are gluten-free, use lettuce to make chicken salad lettuce wraps.

HYDRATION

You can totally get away with bringing water to a summer picnic- it’s actually encouraged! The summer heat may seem like you’re melting so your guests won’t notice that you didn’t bring rosé or something fancy - they will be looking for water! To take that summer drink up a notch, why not infuse them with herbs and fruit like mint, lemon, and blueberries.

Another great way to take that water up a notch is with my newest recipe, watermelon lime refreshers! You can bring them for drinks or go a simple step further and make them into popsicles. The popsicles were the best part because by the time everyone finished stuffing faces, it was time for something sweet, light and refreshing to end a perfect picnic!

What are some ways you like to create a healthy stress-free summer picnic? Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag your summer picnic photo to #fromtherootsblog on Instagram. We love to see your healthy and stress-free summer picnic photos!

Summery watermelon salad that is sure to be a hit at your next summer picnic!