How to Make Super Slim Sandwiches for Perfect Picnics

 I'm writing in May and picnics come to mind, and the words to the song, 'The Teddy Bear's Picnic.' I'm going to talk about how to bypass empty calorie fat-forming picnic food and still have delicious, fun, picnics. Did you have picnics as a child? If not, can you imagine it? Off you go to the countryside, park or a piece of grass. It could be a garden. Off you go, accompanied by your best friends and family; and this is what you should take with you:

List of What to Take with you on a Good Picnic

Food - Picnic means an outdoor meal and so can refer to the event/occasion and the food eaten. Good picnic food should be delicious, tandoori oven, fun to eat and varied.

Hamper - Depending on how far you have to walk and carry the picnic; a picnic hamper, food coolers, other carriers.

Plenty to drink - Alcoholic drinks can be fun for non-drivers on picnics but, lower calorie are non-alcoholic drinks with no added sugar. Adding soda to fresh fruit juice gives a refreshing lower calorie drink. Add slices of citrus fruits to your drinks for style.

Rugs and waterproofs to sit on

Linen - paper cloths and napkins are handy

Paper plates and plastic cutlery cuts down on weight and plastic cutlery is washable and reusable.

Large umbrellas for sun or showers

Change of clothes for children

Bats, balls, frisbees etc.

Food

If all the parents or picnic organisers share the desire to cater healthily and consider the special needs of children and adults who are fighting obesity and overweight, everyone can have a tasty, healthy, happy fun time.

Barbecues - make sure that there is a separate barbecue for cooking vegetarian food all can eat, such as burgers: vege, bean, soya, Quorn and delicious barbecued vegetables. Barbecued corn-on-the-cob minus lashings of butter can be eaten if your diet is not totally low carbohydrate which is not healthy long term.

Sandwiches - this popular picnic food can be enjoyed with the correct advice (see below)

Savoury snacks - lower fat potato and vegetable crisps can be prepared using the oven instead of a deep fat fryer. Why not crunch on raw carrots, celery,cucumber, radishes, spring onion for low calorie/eat plenty food

For a lower carbohydrate meal, combine good protein sources such as beans, meat, Quorn, soya products, fish, cheese and eggs with salad and fruit

Good desserts are fresh fruit and yoghurt. Calorie counted individual desserts can be a nice treat and prevent you from having seconds

Super Slim Sandwiches

Your sandwiches need the crunchiness of bread for the outside and a host of delicious fillings. Let's look at the bread first:

Bread· Allow yourself 2 oz or 56g bread per person · Wholemeal bread is higher fibre, so good for a healthy digestive tract; and slightly lower calorie and carbohydrate · Toasting the bread gives a nice tasty firm base · If you love baguettes or crusty rolls, you can have a bigger sandwich if you maintain the crusty part and scoop out the soft bread to turn into breadcrumbs or feed to the ducks

Delicious fillingsYou can include as many low calorie salad, fruit and vegetable ingredients as you wish. You can include high protein ingredients such as Quorn, lean meat, eggs, fish and pulses, even a few nuts and seeds! Below is my favourite sandwich. I'll give you a nutritional breakdown of the ingredients.

Rashers, egg, avocado and tomatoes slim sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices of bread toasted or 2 oz (56g) crusty part of a baguette 121 kcalories, 5g protein, 23g carbohydrate, 1.5g fat

2 meat free bacon style rashers (e.g. Morning Star) grilled till crispy 59 kcalories, 1.9g protein, 2.2g carbohydrate, 4.6g fat

1 hard-boiled egg sliced 70 kcalories, 6g protein, 0g carbohydrate, 5g fat

1 oz (28g) avocado pear sliced 62 kcalories, 1g protein, 0.5 g carbohydrate, 6g fat

½ tomato sliced 8 kcalories, 1.5g carbohydrate, 0.5g protein, 0g fat

Black pepper

Total: 312 kcalories and 14g protein

Method

Layer your sandwich starting and finishing with bread.

Tomato is the wettest food and so place it in the middle.

If desired you may add lots of lettuce, grated carrot or any other low calorie salad or vegetable ingredients to the centre.

If your eating plan allows healthy olive oil, make an oil and vinegar dressing (I love Balsamic vinegar and a spoonful of French mustard). If your diet is low-fat, sprinkle your sandwich with a little balsamic vinegar.