The Perfect Anti-Inflammatory Picnic

First up, I am going to show you how to make an affordable charcuterie board to bring to your next picnic!

1. WHAT KIND OF BOARD SHOULD YOU PICK & HOW SHOULD YOU LAY EVERYTHING OUT?

• The best board for a picnic is a thin bamboo board.
• Spread out each component across the board so you can easily reach for them. Duplicate things on each end of the board to avoid people crowding one area.
• Put wet ingredients like olives and dips in small bowls or ramekins.
• When you are done arranging, fill up any empty spaces with brightly coloured veggies.
• TIP: Find out dietary restrictions ahead of time to accommodate friend's and family's needs.

2. TO START BUILDING YOUR BOARD, BEGIN WITH AFFORDABLE SWAPS FOR EXPENSIVE MEATS AND CHEESE.

• If you insist on cured meats, swap for smaller portions. Instead of 3 oz per person, try 1.5 oz per person.
• Liver pâté is priced to please and is packed full of iron.
• Instead of prosciutto, try turkey kielbasa sausage (a Slavic staple that's cheaper than many other cured types of meat, yet still tastes great).
• Roasted beef or roasted turkey is not cured and very affordable (TIP: Cut it yourself to make it even more affordable)

3. FIVE INEXPENSIVE ADD-ONS THAT SATISFY!

1. Vibrant veggies that stand up in the heat: Snap peas, red peppers, carrots (try to find purple ones for a colourful pop), cauliflower, celery, cucumber, radishes, asparagus spears, broccoli.

2. Sweet Fruit: They balance out the salty notes on the board and add bright colours and chewy textures.

FRESH FRUITS: Apples, pear, grapes, melons, berries.

DRIED FRUITS: Mangoes, apricots, goji berries, figs, dates.

FRUIT COMPOTES / LOW SUGAR JAM

3. Crunchy Crackers: Most health food stores have gluten-free, paleo, vegan crackers to meet people's dietary needs. 

4. Sour: Something pickled helps digestion and satisfies salt cravings in the heat. Examples would include olives, marinated red peppers, olive oil infused sundried tomatoes, stone ground mustard, horseradish, pickled onions, marinated artichoke hearts.

5. Seeds: Great swaps for nuts! Instead of spending a fortune on roasted almonds or cashews, try toasting some pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds with a splash of gluten-free tamari. (TIP: Put them in a shaker so no one touches the seeds)

4. HOW MUCH DOES YOUR TYPICAL CHARCUTERIE BOARD COST VS YOUR SUMMER PICNIC BOARD?

• $20 vs $50
• You could easily spend $50+ buying cured meats, cheeses, bread, and nuts.
• Commit to spending $20 and you can build a selection of delicious and varied snacks that will be satisfying and leave you feeling good after you've eaten them.

CLICK BELOW TO TRY MY 3 PERFECT PICNIC RECIPES:

1. Little Black Bean Dip

2. Happy Sushi Wraps

3. Picnic Frittatas

Click here to watch my "Picnic Perfect" segment on The Marilyn Denis Show!