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Summer is the perfect time for a picnic. But many traditional picnic and cookout foods tend not to be the healthiest choices. Fortunately, summer is also the best time to find delicious, nutritious fresh vegetables and fruit at your local grocery store. Below, Cranberry Country Market, a family-owned grocery in Tomah, Wisconsin, offers some hints on how to use summer’s cornucopia to make your next picnic a healthy one.

4 Ways to Make Your Picnic Healthier With Fresh Produce

1. Crunchy Snacks

Instead of a bag of greasy chips, fill the role of crunchy snacks with crisp, fresh vegetables. Carrots and celery are the classic choices, of course, but for more adventure, you can try crispy fresh produce alternatives like cucumbers, radishes, cauliflower, snap peas, or even raw zucchini.

2. Tasty Salads

If you’re used to thinking of salad as boring, you may not be taking advantage of all your fresh produce options. Make sure everyone at your picnic wants more salad by focusing on exciting, unusual elements like shredded jicama, fresh sprouts, or crispy bell peppers, and experiment with lighter vinaigrette dressings to let the crisp flavors of summer come through.

3. Stacked Sandwiches

Switch out the traditional hamburgers and hot dogs for lighter proteins like cheese, roasted chicken, or deli meats, and get creative with your fresh vegetables. You can stack your sandwich with the traditional lettuce, tomato, and onion, or try out more exciting options like arugula, peppers, or roasted eggplant. To get really creative, skip the sandwich entirely and toss whatever elements you like into an easy-to-transport whole wheat wrap.

4. Fresh Fruit

Fresh produceCookies and cake are overkill during summer, when healthy desserts are literally growing on trees. Fresh fruit from a great grocery store like Cranberry Country Market makes a great dessert right out of the basket, or you can chop and mix fresh fruits into a refreshing, delicious fruit salad. Apples and oranges are steadfastly delicious, but to make your fruit salad a real treat, throw in some fruits you might not normally think of, like plums or blackberries.

For the best local and fresh vegetables and fruit in Tomah, visit Cranberry Country Market at 9941 State Highway 173. They have everything you need to make your next picnic a grand occasion, whether you follow the suggestions above or go the more traditional route. And they source most of their fresh produce locally, so a healthy snack can be both good for your body and good for your neighbor. Visit the Cranberry Country Market website to find out more, or call them today at (608) 374-4944!

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