Summertime in Indiana is filled with outdoor concerts! Hoosiers from all across the state travel to see events like Symphony on the Prairie with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. When you attend summer concerts, you definitely need to bring food. Jennifer Malins, one of our contributing authors to NOTE, gives the run down on how to make healthier choices for bringing food to your favorite outdoor concert. Yum!
Pack It Up Before You Go-Go:Festival Feasts for Health-Conscious Folks on the Run
After the cold, dark days of winter, the light of summer brings with it an air of celebration. Farmers’ markets dot the city with displays of fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers, our gardens are alive with color, the Monon Trail is packed with people of all walks of life, and our neighborhoods are filled with the smell of outdoor cooking. The city is in full bloom with festivals, outdoor concerts, and more that are usually accompanied by vast and tempting food choices that aren’t always healthy.
Some events, like the CMI audience favorite Symphony on the Prairie, allow you to bring your own food, a perfect opportunity to concoct your own delicious and healthy eats. For a healthier version of the cheese and wine picnic spread, try topping healthy crackers like Mary’s Gone Crackers (gluten-free) with organic, raw cheese or locally-made Capriole goat cheese from Greenville, Indiana. For a dairy-free option, try hummus or other bean dip. Consider imbibing with an organic wine that is free from the heavy pesticides. Many of these varieties are also sulfite-free and all are readily available around town. Complete your concert spread with fruit purchased from your local farmers’ market.
For other outdoor venues with plentiful (but unhealthy) food options, consider bringing body-fueling snacks in a sealable bag or reusable container, like a smoothie mix that can easily be added to a water bottle, or a homemade trail mix with nuts, seeds, dark chocolate pieces, banana chips, goji berries, coconut flakes, and other goodies. Dates stuffed with peanut butter are another healthy, delicious, filling, and easy-to-pack snack.
When I need to eat meals on the go, or know I’m going to a place that serves cuisine I’d rather not eat, I pack quinoa salads, green salads, and vegetarian wraps that keep well in a cooler in my car for quite some time. Whether you are a merrymaker at one of the many festivals and concerts this summer or simply a person with a hectic lifestyle, you can be healthy on the go!
Jennifer Malins is a certified Integrative Nutrition Coach.
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