How to Plan a Gluten-Free and Allergy-Friendly Picnic

Celiac.com 07/20/2021 - It’s summertime, and a picnic is a really fun activity to do at the park or beach. However, when you have food allergies that make you exclude wheat, dairy, eggs, soy, shellfish, and peanuts, planning a picnic can be quite challenging. 

Nowadays picnics often include dishes like egg salad, tuna salad, macaroni salad, pinwheel sandwiches, and fried chicken. Those are definitely delicious, but if you have celiac disease or allergies there are still many alternatives that you can include in your picnic basket. 

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Here are seven simple suggestions that can help you fill a gluten and allergen-free picnic table:

Gluten-Free Chicken and Bean Salad

You can roast or grill the chicken, plus use black beans, kidney, chickpeas, and green beans with a dressing of apple cider vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and lemon. 

Gluten-Free Garden Tomato Salad

You can mix cherry tomatoes, red onions, cucumbers, bell peppers, and carrots with a drizzled olive oil, and sprinkle of salt and pepper. 

Gluten-Free Roasted Potatoes

Use multiple colored baby potatoes (purple, red, etc.) with diced onion and garlic mixed throughout. 

Gluten-Free California Mashers

Now, if you happen to be watching your carb intake, then this is a much better choice. All you have to do is find a milk and butter substitute such as Earth Balance or So-Delicious, then boil a head of cauliflower and use a potato masher to finish the dish just like you would make mashed potatoes.

Gluten-Free Crispy Kale Chips

Buy fresh kale, throw olive oil on it with any spices you want like garlic, onion, cayenne pepper, black pepper, white pepper, salt, etc. Then roast, until it’s crispy!  

Gluten-Free Guacamole

Simply mash two avocados, and add diced tomatoes, red onions. cilantro and some lemon juice, and then grab some corn or kale chips for dipping! 

Gluten-Free Melon Salad

Toss watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew balls together with a squeeze of lemon and lime to balance the sweetness. Then, top it off with ribbons of mint. 

So, the next time there’s an outdoor event, think about what you can bring to the table, literally!