Happy National Picnic and Grilling Month!

Here at Seniors Speak Out, we love picnics and cookouts so we thought it would be fun to share a few tips and recipes that are sure to impress your friends and family while you celebrate these tasty appreciation months.First, we recommend checking your local tourism center or consulting guides online, to find nearby parks for picnicking, though having your own private picnic at home is guaranteed to be just as fun.Second, grilling for a large group of people and transporting food from the grill to a picnic can be challenging. Luckily, there are delicious foil packet recipes that allow each guest to have their own individual, mess-free meal. The foil wrapping is also wonderful for transporting food from the grill to a picnic table and also stack easily in a cooler or basket. Some of our favorites are Barbecue Chicken and Vegetables in Foil, Grilled Clambake with Shrimp and Corn in Foil and Sausage and Vegetables Jambalaya in Foil. You can also find more options here.If foil meals aren’t your thing, grilling a few chicken breasts to go with family-style sides is a classic approach to cookouts and picnics. While potato salad is a go-to and delicious side, this Cauliflower Salad or an Avocado-Pesto Pasta Salad with Corn are healthy substitutes that go great with any at home or outdoor picnic dish.Lastly, be sure to have plenty of bottled water to help you stay hydrated while cooking outdoors. Also, make sure you bring insect repellant to keep insects away from your family as well as the food.Now it’s time to get outside and start cooking! Be sure to let us know how you plan to celebrate National Picnic Month or National Grilling Month on Facebook and Twitter and feel free to share your own healthy recipes with us!