Low Carb Picnic Food

Being on a diet doesn’t mean that you have to deny yourself the simple luxuries of picnics and flavorful food. One of the benefits of the popular low carb diet is that the recommended foods are ideal for picnic fare. An evening seafood feast with a classic Caesar salad will not only satisfy your hunger, you won’t feel guilty the next day that you strayed from your diet.

With an emphasis on protein, shellfish such as crab and shrimp are on the accepted list of low carb options. With a couple of Dungeness crabs (ask to have them cracked and cleaned at the fish counter) and a pound or two of cooked, tail-on jumbo shrimp, you’re well on your way to a diet-friendly, picnic meal. With a few everyday ingredients, you can whip up a zesty seafood cocktail sauce, and don’t forget wedges of fresh lemon.

Caesar salad, with its anchovy-based dressing, is perfect with seafood and meets the low carb requirements. The dressing can be prepared in a food processor in no time and can be kept in an air-tight container in a picnic ice chest. When you’re ready to serve the salad, pour the dressing on the Romaine lettuce leaves right at the table and toss. Instead of using high carb bread croutons on the salad, try a handful of crunchy nuts like pecans or slivered almonds.

Seafood Cocktail Sauce
Makes 2 cups

1 cup ketchup
1 cup bottled chili sauce
½ cup horseradish
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Mix all ingredients and chill.

Low Carb Caesar Salad
Serves 4 to 6

2 cloves garlic
8 anchovy fillets, halved
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
1 egg yolk (you can omit, but ingredients will not bind as well)
1 ½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
1 head Romaine lettuce, washed and torn into small pieces
½ cup chopped nuts (pecans, almonds, or other variety)

In a food processor or blender, whirl garlic, anchovy halves, oil, lemon juice, cheese, egg yolk, Worcestershire, and pepper until smooth. Cover and keep chilled. To serve, place lettuce in large salad bowl. Stir dressing, pour over lettuce and toss until every leaf is coated. Add nuts and mix gently. Serve immediately.

Looking for more Picnic Food Ideas or Picnic Recipes

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