This post includes my gluten-free picnic staples and is sponsored by Sprouts. Please see my disclosures.

The kids are out of school, the sun is shining, and, well, we have no plans for the summer of 2020.

Due to the “viral” situation in the world, our summer plans to spend one week in Italy, six weeks in London, and then send my daughter to a two-week sleepaway camp have all been canceled.

Like most people in the world, we are at home, with no camps or travel plans, for the foreseeable future.

To entertain my kids, and keep the days a little bit exciting, I’m working hard at planning at least one excursion each day to get us out of the house and give us something to do.

Vacations plans, summer camps, pools, parks, zoos and museums may be closed (at least for now), but fun summer days are far from canceled.

Let’s Picnic!

A fun family activity that requires nothing more than some good food, a large blanket, and a little imagination is a family picnic.

A picnic gives us a great way to enjoy the great outdoors, get some fresh air, and enjoy some screen-free time away from home (but not too far from home).

Because my family eats gluten free, picnics have never been my favorite activity. I think it’s mostly because picnics are typically filled with all sorts of gluten-filled foods. I never understood why and when sandwiches became a picnic staple. Blech!

Gluten can foil a good picnic, that is, unless I’m in charge of packing it.

When I pack my own picnic basket, I fill it with healthy snacks, tons of naturally gluten-free farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, and certified gluten-free snack foods from my favorite grocery store, Sprouts.

When I picnic, I prefer to slowly nosh on fun foods while soaking in the sun and watching people go by vs. quickly fill up my belly with an unsatisfying sandwich.

In this article, let’s talk about what goes into packing a gluten-free picnic filled with fresh produce and tons of snacks that keep us entertained while we picnic in the park (or backyard).

Gluten-Free Picnic Staples from Sprouts

Did you know that Sprouts is a champion for the gluten-free community? It’s true. The grocery chain carries more than 3,000 gluten-free items! You can understand why Sprouts is part of my weekly grocery shopping routine.

On top of that, Sprouts has a huge selection of naturally gluten-free fresh produce, and the grocery store offers tons of certified gluten-free Sprouts-branded items available at a great price, too.

Here are some of the gluten-free picnic finds that work well for a snack-filled picnic:

• Cucumbers (sliced)
• Bell peppers (sliced)
• Baby carrots
• Avocados (I use them to make homemade guacamole)
• Celery sticks
• Grapes
• Apples
• Melons (seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces)
• Strawberries
• Blueberries

To keep things fun and exciting, I often find myself making themed picnic baskets.

My latest creation was this Healthy Green Picnic Basket, filled with “green” items that were both spicy and sweet, crunchy and soft. The more flavors and textures the better.

Specifically, my Health Green Picnic Basket included:

• Hatch Chili Tortilla Chips with Sprouts Hatch Chili Salsa
• Grain-Free Tortilla Chips made with avocado oil and cassava flour
• Organic pitted green olives (kids love ’em!)
• Organic and gluten-free coconut clusters (to add a touch of sweetness)
• Avocados
• Green grapes
• Green apples

I’m excited to report that this particular picnic basket was a hit. We had so much fun noshing on all the items as we watched the people go by and soaked in a little sun.

Don’t forget to bring plenty of water, hats, sunscreen, and a great big picnic blanket, preferably one that is waterproof, to ensure an enjoyable experience.

How Do You Picnic?

It’s your turn to tell me what’s you in your picnic basket in the comments below.

I’d also love to hear creative ways you’re passing the the long summer days without the typical travel, camps, and fanfare. Please share in the comments.

To stock up on gluten-free picnic staples, don’t forget to visit your local Sprouts. Find a store near you at Sprouts.com.