Planning a picnic for friends and family can be a lot of fun. But, what about guests on a vegan diet? Should you ask them to bring their own food or can you still show off your skills as a host by offering a decadent vegan picnic for all? Knowing what is and what isn’t allowed on a vegan diet is a good place to start and it’s not as difficult as you think.
Sourcing healthy vegan snacks means less stress when grocery shopping or finding recipes to prepare yourself. But what else can you do to ensure your vegan picnic is a big hit with all your guests, even those who expect a tasty chicken pie or two in their basket? Keep reading to find out more!
7 Tasty Ideas for Planning a Decadent Vegan Picnic for All Your Guests
1. Find Vegan Food Suppliers
If you don’t like the idea of preparing dishes from scratch, you could source vegan food suppliers who prepare a range of meals suitable for this type of diet. Specialty stores know exactly what is allowed in a vegan recipe and this saves you the stress of trying to figure it out for yourself. Simply place an order, collect on the day of your picnic, pack the baskets and enjoy!
Tip: speak to your vegan guest to find out where they go to for all their food shopping and use these recommendations to help you plan.
2. Search for Vegan Recipes
Searching for vegan recipes has never been easier, all thanks to the online community. Using vegan recipes will guide you in what ingredients to buy while showing you how to create impressive, decadent dishes for the picnic basket. From snacks to dips, sandwiches and puddings, recipes abound for the vegan eater!
Keeping it simple is key to smooth preparation and cooking for vegans. Avoid elaborate recipes by picking easy ones that use minimal ingredients.
3. Get the Balance Right
Getting the balance right between savoury and sweet dishes is vital for a successful picnic day. This means including a range of proteins (the vegan type), fruits and vegetables and don’t forget everyone’s favourite, the carbs. Having a mixture of different food types allows you to be creative while satisfying a range of taste requirements.
A few ideas to get you started:
- Ideal vegan picnic fruit and vegetables include strawberries and other berries, apples and watermelon as well as baby carrots and cherry tomatoes.
- Hummus and tofu are popular protein choices for vegans and throwing in delicious guacamole won’t go amiss.
- Sandwiches and wraps with tasty vegan fillings make excellent savoury dishes and are easy to eat.
4. Dips and Sauces Don’t Have to Be Bland
Even sauces and dips are easier to prepare than you may think. Our top tips for this category:
- Chocolate sauces for dipping luscious strawberries can be made with maple syrup, cocoa powder and water. It’s that simple and decadently sweet!
- Nut butter makes a rich but delicious spread for carbs such as baguettes and crackers.
- Organic yoghurt with a dash of spice makes a flavoursome dip for dunking vegetable slices or chickpea chips.
- Of course, hummus and guacamole make delicious dips too and they’re easy to make or source from a supermarket specialising in vegan foods.
5. Don’t Forget the Snacks
Nibbling on snacks before diving into the main dishes makes every picnic a gastronomic experience! You’re safe to include the following in the picnic basket for both vegan and non-vegan guests:
- Olives
- Pretzels
- Dried fruit
- Nuts
- Roasted chickpeas
- Tortilla chips
Remember to pack them in airtight containers so they don’t lose their crunch.
6. Wholesome Salads to Wow Your Picnic Guests
A bunch of salad greens won’t cut it if you seriously want to impress your picnic guests with your culinary skills. So, you need some interesting salad tips:
- Vegans love combining black beans, mango cubes and lime juice for zesty flavours while avocado, strawberries and spinach work amazingly well together as a salad. Add some pecan nuts and your guests will be asking for the recipe!
- Roasted vegetables with a pesto paste.
- Vegan potato salads.
- Broccoli with apple cider vinegar and cashew dressing.
7. End Off With Decadent Vegan Treats
You can buy ready-made vegan treats if you don’t feel like slaving away in the kitchen or you can get creative and put together some mouth-watering desserts. Here are some delectable ideas to satisfy the sweet tooth:
- Raspberry muffins with chocolate chips and pecan pieces
- Oatmeal cookies with bits of fruit, raisins or nuts included
- Brownie bites made with organic cocoa powder, dates and walnuts
- Chocolate chip cookies
When making these treats make sure you only use vegan ingredients.
Final Thoughts
Planning for a vegan picnic doesn’t have to be stressful. Equipping yourself with the right knowledge and finding stores that supply vegan food and ingredients ease the process considerably. Getting creative with simple vegan recipes is another way of showing off your extensive culinary skills.
Truthfully, it’s simple and fun putting together a decadent vegan picnic basket when using our ideas. So go on, be adventurous!
