A healthy picnic

The sun is shining, the weather is sweet… it makes you want to go outside and eat! 
Yes, I know that song went slightly different. But this is true as well. The summer is the perfect time to eat outside. Alone or with friends.

raspberries

Since you are what you eat and it’s therefore very important to only eat good stuff, it’s important as well to adjust your picnic accordingly.

So, what to bring on a yogic picnic?

Of course, a yoga mat to stretch on before eating. Besides that, here are my favorite things to pack for a picnic!

  1. Water! Lots and lots of water.  I love to add some extra ingredients to my water, such as fresh mint leafs, slices of cucumber, slices of lemon of a little ginger to aid the digestive system.
  2. Something to nibble on. Such as a mixture of raw nuts, goji berries, raisins and inca berries.
  3. A green smoothie. Try a smoothie with some spinach, mint leafs, apples and rice milk. Mmm!
  4. Fresh fruits. Especially delicious are all kinds of berries, watermelon and pineapple. Make sure you wash and if necessary cut them before you pack them.
  5. Raw chocolate. Eat it before it melts. 😉
  6. Something savory. Such as the dish you find below.

Quinoa with chickpeas and greens

  • 2 tbs coconut oil
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp seasalt
  • 4 cups chopped bitter greens, such as kale or dandelion
  • 3 cups chopped watercress
  • 1 ½ cups cooked chickpeas
  • 3 cups cooked quinoa
  • 1 sliced avocado
  • ½ chopped cucumber
  • ¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh mint
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the coconut oil in a pan. Add the cumin, coriander and salt. Stir for a few seconds and add the bitter greens and watercress. Stir until the veggies are just wilted.Remove from the fire and stir in all other ingredients. Transfer to a large bowl or several glass jars and bring along with you for your picnic. This is more than enough for four hungry yogi(ni)s.

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Irina VerwerIrina Verwer is a yoga teacher, Somatic therapist, intimacy coach, Ayurvedic practitioner, vegan chef and writer of two yogic cookbooks. Very grateful for and inspired by all of her teachers, Irina has created a unique style of teaching that is both intense and gentle.