It’s a Picnic!

One of my favorite summer activities is going to the park and having a picnic. Now that the weather is perfect for outdoor activities, I like to visit the park with a packed lunch and a good book to read. It’s a relaxing and affordable way to spend the summer days!

These days, you can find a variety of stylish and fun picnic baskets at any local store. I get a lot of use out of mine but they also make for a wonderful and unique gift for a close friend or family member. Today, I am going to share with you a delicious recipe to pack into your picnic basket but I am also going to share with you a few great tips for packing a picnic basket. I found some of these tips on one of my favorite websites, Delish {www.delish.com}. I also added a few of my own ideas!

Summer Picnic Tips

Be prepared. Choose an easy recipe, which you can prepare beforehand. I chose a Heart Healthy Chicken Salad Sandwich from Campbell’s Kitchen! It’s perfect for a summer afternoon and good for you too!

Don’t forget the drinks. Freeze a few water bottles, which will not only keep your food chilled but they will melt throughout the day for a refreshing and cool drink!

Stay cool. If you're not planning to eat right away, pack mayonnaise-based dishes in a cooler to maintain proper temperatures. Since my recipe below contains mayonnaise, I will pack my cooler with a frozen ice pack and a few frozen water bottles. It will keep my sandwiches fresh until I am ready to eat!

Be comfy. Don’t forget to pack a large blanket for you to sit on and enjoy your lunch!

Heart Healthy Chicken Sandwiches
From Campbell's Kitchen
Prep: 15 minutes
Makes: 4 sandwiches


2 tablespoons nonfat plain yogurt
2 tablespoons light mayonnaise
1/3 cup chopped celery
1/2 small onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
1 can (12.5 ounces) Swanson® Premium White Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained
8 slices Pepperidge Farm® Very Thin 100% Whole Wheat Bread
8 slices tomatoes
4 lettuce leaves

Stir the yogurt, mayonnaise, celery, onion and chicken in a medium bowl.
Divide the chicken mixture among 4 bread slices.
Top with the tomato, lettuce and remaining bread slices.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with carrot and celery sticks and dill pickle spears.

Just a reminder, in case anyone forgot, I’m fortunate enough to work with Swanson Chicken, which is why I have access to all these delicious recipes.

Best, and until next time, Kaitlin!