Best Eco-Friendly Picnic Gear and Snacks
Find the best in environmentally friendly picnic gear for your next outing.
May 25, 2009 — -- While you and your family are out camping and picnicking this summer -- whether it be at the beach, the pool, the woods or your own back yard -- you might want to be healthy and good to the earth as well.
That's why Caroline Schaefer, features director at Self Magazine, dropped by "Good Morning America" today to show off some eco-friendly, healthy, and cost conscious tips on how to be lean and green while enjoying the outdoors this summer.
Lunch Box by Oots available at MadeByOots.com
With four small containers and one large one inside and a special place to keep your water bottle, the Lunch Box by Oots keeps your food and water from spilling even in the roughest terrain.
The containers are BPA-free, dishwasher safe and can be used in the microwave.
UnCommonGoods.com Picnic Basket available for $150 at UncommonGoods.com
These hand-woven picnic baskets are made from 100 percent all-natural and renewable resources. The basket comes with bamboo plates, cutting board and utensils as well as embroidered natural cotten napkins.
Eco-friendly Insulated Cooler Tote Bag available at KeepYourCooler.com
There are two versions of this handy bag, both available at KeepYourCooler.com. The bags are made from natural fibers and are PVC-free. They'll keep your food and drinks cold and fresh for hours.
You can get one version for $21.75 or go for the $47.75 version that comes with a full picnic set for two, including silverware, plates, napkins and corkscrew.
Preserve Storage Containers and Cutlery available at PreserveProducts.com
You can get this eco-friendly cutlery and square storage containers at Whole Foods, many drugstores and from PreserveProducts.com. Because they're dishwasher safe, you can reuse them and they are made from 100 percent recycled and recyclable products.
FiberActive Quilts available for $120 at FiberActiveQuilts.com
These picnic sets include a 100 percent organic cotton tablecloth, eight napkins and a denim tote made from recycled jeans. All the items are made by refugee women in the United States.
Almonds
Want to help fight fat? Grab a handful of almonds. Research shows that when almonds replace less healthful foods, dieters can lose more weight and trim more inches from their waistline even though, ounce for ounce, almonds might have more calories and fat than many other foods. The nuts' healthy fat keeps you satisfied and can help stave off future snack attacks.
Water-Rich Fruits Like Melons or Berries
Melon and strawberries are more than 90 percent water, so they count toward your total fluid intake. Juicy fruit and vegetables with high water content fill you up for very few calories, so dig in.
Pear Sandwich
Spread 3 tbsp almond butter or peanut butter on two slices of whole-wheat bread, add half of a sliced pair and sprinkle it with 1/8 tsp cinnamon and you've got a healthy and delicious sandwich.
Tangy Turkey Pita
Wrap 3 oz turkey breast, 5 olives, 3 tbsp feta cheese, 2 tbsp each diced cucumber and tomato, 6 spinach leaves up in a whole-wheat pita. Throw on 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 tsp balsamic vinegar and you've got an easy, tasty treat.
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