It’s picnicking season again! The weather this weekend was absolutely beautiful so we decided to meet some friends at a local park for a gluten and dairy-free picnic.
At first, I was pretty worried about what to take for a gluten picnic but after a bit of experimenting I found eating al fresco and a picnic without gluten/dairy is a lot easier than you think!
Here’s what we munched on if you’re looking for gluten and dairy-free picnic ideas to whip up and pop in the hamper. You can also scroll further down for 10 amazing gluten and dairy-free picnic recipes below too should you want to put a lit more effort into your planning…
5 super easy gluten and dairy-free picnic ideas
1. Quinoa Salad: Quinoa is a great substitute for couscous and therefore you can pretty much use it as a base for any salad. In this case, I cooked it in Bouillon powder and then added roast pumpkin, sweet potatoes, and a dressing of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar. Quinoa is one of the few non-meat complete protein sources so it’s also very good for you!
2. Lettuce wraps: A great idea for a gluten-free wrap (rather than purchase the expensive, processed kind). Simply tear up some iceberg lettuce and add your feeling. I simply added chicken and some mango chutney but you can add anything: tofu, veggies, meat etc. It gives a really lovely crunch and is a lighter dish for the summer months.
3.Potato salad. Potato salad is a nice indulgent dish that gives a dose of carbs while still being gluten and dairy-free dressing. I simply steamed my potatoes used herbs and lemon juice rather than a rich mayo dressing. In this case, I had some leftover gluten-free sausages so I chucked them in! The result was really delicious- so I think a potato and sausage combo maybe the future of my salad dishes!
4. Boiled eggs. My friend brought these along. I didn’t tuck in myself but they’re a great protein hit.
5. Raw veggies and dip. The classic picnic snack! I bought along two types of dip, a cashew’ cream cheese’ (I’ve already blogged about this here; it’s divine!) and mango chutney. My friends bought an assortment of raw carrots, cucumber and tomato. I would say proceed with caution when consuming a lot of raw veggies if you have IBD. They can be a little tough to digest.
5 gluten and dairy-free picnic quick buys
– Crisps. Tyrells do some great gluten-free vegan crisps that are basically just potato (or even better veggies) and oil. Although they’re not super healthy, they’re a great treat once in a while.
-Gluten-free beer: Jubel is one of my favourites. It’s a really nice fruity gluten-free beer if you prefer your beer slightly sweeter (it comes in peach, grapefruit and elderflower flavor). What’s great is it also can be ordered on Amazon for last-minute picnic trips!
–Gluten free granola. If you can tolerate oats, gluten free granola is great to graze on and an alternative for a pudding.
– Dried fruit. Stuff dates with almond butter, snack on some dried mango or crunch on some apple chips.
-Nakd bar bites. Another sweet item (I’ve definitely got a sweet tooth) but still way better than a bag of malteasers!
And, finally, should you want to make a little more effort, here’s 10 gluten and dairy free picnic recipes for you to make!
10 gluten and dairy free picnic recipes
10 GLUTEN AND DAIRY FREE PICNIC RECIPES
Off out for a picnic? Here are a few super simple gluten and dairy-free picnic dishes to make and pack in your hamper. From gluten and dairy-free potato salad to rainbow slaw and gluten-free, vegan veggie dippers.
Probiotic Vegan Potato Salad
This vegan potato salad is much healthier than the regular kind. As well as being quick to batch cook and delicious served cold, it's also a great way to get some probiotics into your diet.
Gluten Free Mini Calzones
Use gluten-free tortilla to make these mini calzones: perfect for little hands and gluten and dairy-free too!
gluten free sweet potato hash browns
They might be a breakfast item but these hash browns work just as good for lunch and dinner too. They're egg-free as well as being dairy-free, and really easy to make in large quantities.
Roast Aubergine with Rainbow Slaw and Pea, Avocado Hummus
A delicious roasted aubergine dish for a vegan picnic- with a side of gluten and dairy free slaw and pea and avocado hummus.
Gluten Free, Vegan 'Mcdonald's style' Veggie Dippers
Craving fast food? Make a batch of the veggie dippers for your next picnic. The perfect finger food-these veggie dippers use a gluten free crumb-and work perfectly with humus and guac!
Gluten-Free, Vegan 'Cheesy' Loaded Nacho Bowl
Nachos are always a great picnic option. Take a store-bought bag or try these loaded 'cheesy' dairy-free nachos instead.
Healthy Vegan Waldorf Salad Recipe • Happy Kitchen
Traditional Waldorf salad contains dairy but this vegan version doesn't! It's the perfect salad to pack for a picnic and it's gut-friendly too!
Hummus Pasta Salad [Gluten-Free, Vegan, No Mayo]
A pasta salad is a picnic staple, this one uses gluten-free pasta and hummus instead of regular dressing. It can be cooked and kept in the fridge for 3 days too!
Vegan Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Quinoa is a great alternative to couscous (which contains gluten). A quinoa salad dish works great chilled and this one is packed with veg too.
Trail Mix Salad – Vegan & Gluten Free
Trail mix is always in my handbag as a great gluten-free snack! Why not give your picnic some crunch by throwing some into a salad too? Bored of regular salad or running low on gluten-free pasta? Instead of using gluten-free pasta, this salad ingeniously uses brown rice as the base instead.
