It's Eat Outside Day!

Today, August 31, is Eat Outside Day! And what better way is there to celebrate the last bit of summer before the kids head back to school than with a healthy, green picnic? Whether it’s lunch, afternoon snack, or dinner, head outside and bon appétit!

Tips to make your picnic greener:

• Say no disposables! Instead, bring along sturdy reusable plates and cutlery. Many cooking stores sell entire picnic sets, from baskets to plates and everything in between.
• If you’re set on disposables, check out your local health food store; they often carry greener alternatives to plastics, such as plates and cutlery made from sustainable fibres.
• Swap out paper napkins for pretty cloth versions (even small dishcloths will do the trick).
• Follow the golden rule of spending time in nature: take nothing but photographs; leave nothing but footprints. In other words, don’t be a litterbug, and respect the natural environment!

Fun activities:

• Get the whole gang involved in a picnic sport, or bring along a kite or Frisbee.
• Introduce the kids to the plants and animals in the area. Bring along a plant and flower identification book and see how many you can name, and bring a pair of binoculars and see how many birds you can spot.

alive picnic-worthy menu:

• Wonderful Watermelon Juice
• Layered Indian Summer Salad 
• Mixed Bean Salad 
• Polenta Pizza Squares 
• Crisp Peanut Butter Cookies