5 excuses to celebrate a healthy picnic in nature

Gathering to eat outdoors, in a green setting, with family or friends, is an excellent idea for a weekend. So that no one can resist the invitation, you can add a reason, an excuse, that makes the meeting a special and fun moment. We propose you some Original ideas with which you can enjoy nature and company in a somewhat different way.

1. Picnic under the shower of shooting stars

Meteor showers occur throughout the year on certain days and times. How can we not pay attention to them? On these days, when the night is clear of clouds, you can see dozens of shooting stars in the sky. On this page of the National Geographic Institute you can find the dates of the main meteor showers.

The most spectacular rain of the year and the most pleasant to gather under the stars, is that of the Perseids, on August 11 and 12. This phenomenon occurs because at this time of the year, the Earth comes across the remains left behind by the comet Swift-Tuttle. It is the ideal time to take a picnic blanket, prepare various delicacies and have an evening picnic.

2. Picnic for movie fans

In summer there are countless open-air cinemas, sometimes even with free admission. Find out in advance if you can bring your own food and drinks. If so, then you and your loved ones can Prepare an excellent takeaway menu. Create your own menus for every occasion. Homemade popcorn, of course, should not be missing from a movie picnic.

3. Children’s birthday

Any child who has a birthday will be happy to celebrate it outdoors with their little friends and escape from closed spaces. You must choose the right location so that guests can easily reach it by public transport on foot or by bicycle.

The sanitary facilities in the surroundings are an advantage and must be taken into account. If you want to make the picnic a little more festiveyou can hang hammocks and set the mood with fairy lights, flowers, dinosaurs or characters.

It is important that you always inform yourself in advance if it is allowed to have a picnic in the place you have chosen and take away all the garbage that is generated or, better yet, avoid it from the start by having guests bring their own glasses, plates and cutlery, and cloth napkins.

4. Picnic above the clouds

Sometimes you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city, even the parks, which are often saturated on weekends. Mountain hiking is a great way to find peace and quiet. You can celebrate reaching a summit with a small picnic.

You can transport stews and soups in thermos and then give them a touch with an aromatic plant that you find along the way, such as rosemary, mint or thyme.

The meal can be rounded off with homemade spelled bread and elderflower juice. All you need to do is enjoy the wonderful views. Remember that you can also make your own energy balls or muesli bars for the ascent

5. Picnic in a rowing boat

The edge of a lake or a river are ideal places for a picnic, but why not eat on the water? Either in an inflatable boat, pedal boat or rowing boata picnic on the water is a wonderful thing. With a bit of luck, you can head out to a lonely island or remote bay with your chartered boat, relax a bit, and enjoy the peace and quiet.

2 recipes to take to a picnic

Couscous salad

Ingredients:

200 g couscous300 ml water3 tomatoesA bunch of spring onions1/2 cucumber1/4 red pepper1/4 green pepper1/4 yellow pepper5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oilA few sprigs of fresh mintJuice of one lemonPepperSalt

Preparation:

Put the couscous in a bowl and pour 300 milliliters of boiling water over it. Put the lid on and let it sit for ten minutes. Then season with salt and pepper. While the couscous swells, you can clean the vegetables. Wash everything thoroughly and cut it into cubes. So that the couscous salad does not become too watery, you can remove the seeds from the cucumber with a spoon.Wash the mint leaves and chop them finely.Now you can mix the greens and mint into the finished couscous.Dress with the olive oil and the lemon juice. Let the salad rest for about 15 minutes to allow the aroma to unfold.

You can separate the couscous salad into portions ahead of time. Just put it in empty jars with screw lids and close them tightly. Therefore, it is not only easy to carry, but also easy to eat. You can also decorate the glass for special occasions, for example with washi tape or chalk markers.

Mediterranean quiche with spinach, feta cheese and tomatoes

Ingredients:

1 sheet of shortcrust pastry2 tomatoes400 g of spinach250 g of feta cheese2 cloves of garlic4 eggs100 ml of milk100 ml of whipped creamExtra virgin olive oilSaltPepperFresh basil

Preparation:

Grease the quiche or cake mold well, spread the shortcrust pastry in such a way that there is an edge about three centimeters high. Sauté the spinach in a little olive oil. Add the garlic and season with salt and pepper. Spread the spinach evenly over the dough. Crumble the feta cheese and sprinkle on top. Mix the eggs, milk and whipped cream, season with salt and pepper and pour over the quiche filling. Wash the tomatoes and cut into slices. Spread them over the quiche.Pour the basil on top and bake the quiche for about 45 minutes at 180ºC.