The chills and thrills of the festive season have passed and the weather slowly warms up as we move towards spring. It's time to dust off those picnic baskets and clean out the ice-box and spend the evening discussing plans for your picnics. It would be wise to choose a picnic spot close to a hiking trail so that the entire family can enjoy an easy, flat hike. Regular picnics can soon become a family ritual where young ones are introduced to sports, games, and nature. These picnics can also prevent lethargy in adolescents and seniors. You also need to be careful of what you pack on your family trip. Avoid colas, junk food, and chips and instead have plenty of healthy salads, sandwiches, and fresh juices. Teens and teenagers may think that picnics are childish and so it will be up to you to change their minds!

Picnics

Healthy Foods for the Day:
Unhealthy picnic foods may be easy to find but they will make you lethargic and defeat the purpose of your picnic. Sandwiches make an easy option for picnics as they are easy to prepare and healthiest to eat on a picnic. There are a number of foods that form a healthy picnic snack and vegetables like carrots, broccoli, celery, beans, sprouts and corn can all be added together in sandwiches as well as salads. Fruits like apples, pears, bananas, peaches, oranges and so on can also be wonderful snacks or desserts. Meals too could include lean protein meats such as turkey and chicken as well as low-fat cheeses, whole grain bread, mustard sauce, or Salsa sauce.

General Do's And Don'ts:
There are certain things that you could keep in mind when going for a picnic. You will need to impose a ban on cell phones and other gadgets for the entire picnic. Make sure that you also follow this rule and only accept unavoidable and emergency calls. To make things interesting include family games and picnic songs as they will also help in relieving stress and building a stronger bond with your family. Avoid imposing stringent rules on children and give them the freedom they desire. Travel to the picnic spot in advance and decide on games and activities based on the terrain. Keep a first-aid box handy in cases of any emergency.

Health Benefits:
The positive effects of outdoor activities as family have been recognized and accepted for generations, but are even more relevant today because of the nature of our modern lifestyles. In our fast paced urbane lifestyle there is little time for social relationships, and a family picnic offers considerable benefits for the health of the individual and as well as a bonding experience for the family. Picnics are a great stress buster as it helps reduce the stress and anxiety related to work and home. Being the adult isn't always easy, and it's great to be able to ease up on the responsibility from time to time. Picnics and outings provide you with such an opportunity, where you needn't worry about fussy children wrecking your house or throwing tantrums, as this is the time when kids are most receptive. Consuming healthy foods also keeps you energetic and active through the day. A visit to the countryside is also just what you need, particularly if you suffer from any respiratory disorder. The fresh air should invigorate you and leave you feeling rejuvenated, whether or not you suffer from asthma or bronchitis or any other respiratory disease.