Gluten free diets are fast gaining in popularity and they offer many fantastic health benefits. However, if you’re new to a gluten free diet, it can be difficult knowing what you should and shouldn’t be eating – especially when it comes to picnic foods.
A lot of pre-prepared gluten free snacks aren’t as healthy as you might think. Therefore, it’s always recommended you either make your own from scratch, or take care to read the labels before you buy.
If you’re looking for delicious gluten free picnic snacks, here you’ll discover 5 of the best ideas.
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Sweet potato crunchy snacks
These are super-simple to create and they’re sure to be a hit with the kids too. Sweet potatoes are renowned for their health benefits, containing high levels of fiber, folate and vitamins A and C.
All you need to make this delicious snack is sweet potato and coconut oil. If you’d prefer a less sweet taste you can substitute the coconut oil for olive oil. They’re great to eat alone, or sprinkled over a salad.
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Sushi
If you’re looking for a healthy snack, you can’t beat sushi. However, contrary to popular belief, not all sushi is gluten free. For example, the crab meat varieties are often made with wheat. Therefore, it’s a good idea to check the labels of any sushi before you buy.
Other sushi products which may contain gluten that you need to be aware of include sticky rice, sesame seeds and soy sauce. The vegetable based sushi rolls are the best gluten-free ones to opt for if you want to play it safe.
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Strawberry and banana blended muffins
If you’re after something sweet, this mouthwatering recipe is exactly what you need. Not only are these tasty snacks gluten-free, but they’re also nut and vegan free too.
Their main ingredients include mashed banana, strawberry chunks, maple syrup, oats and vanilla extract. When buying oats, it’s important to ensure they are listed as gluten free as some can end up cross-contaminated during production.
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Devilled eggs with guacamole
Devilled eggs make an awesome picnic food and this guacamole version is sure to go down well with the kids. It’s packed full of protein and healthy fats, guaranteeing to give you a natural boost of energy. So, if you’re looking for gluten free snack that’s extra-healthy, this is a fantastic recipe to add to your “go-to” gluten free list.
A combination of avocado, eggs, lime juice and chili powder make this a tangy, mouth-watering recipe.
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Fruit and vegetable sticks
If you’re looking for the easiest gluten-free snacks, raw fruits and vegetables are perfect. They require very little preparation and are packed full of vitamins and minerals.
There are so many ways you can prepare fruit and vegetable based snacks. Simply cut them in fingers and serve individual fruit and vegetable snacks. Or why not combine them by adding cucumber, carrots and celery all on a wooden stick? The same can be done with fruit. Just add strawberry, kiwi and banana onto a wooden stick.
Eaten alone, fruits and vegetables are the healthiest gluten-free snack and also the most affordable. So, it makes sense to add them to your gluten-free picnic snack list.
Overall, gluten free snacks don’t have to be boring. Most require very little preparation so you don’t have to worry about spending hours in the kitchen. They also tend to store well too, making them fantastic to take along to a picnic. The above are just 5 gluten free snacks to bring to a picnic but you’ll find hundreds more ideas online.
