One of the first things I do when the weather starts to warm up is break out my picnic basket and plan a great outdoor adventure with friends. There’s nothing I love more than food and fellowship in the sunshine! There are a few rules, though; the food needs to be portable, seasonal, and above all, fit into my Weight Watchers diet goals. These recipes deliver on all fronts and are some of my springtime faves.
1. Turkey Sausage Rolls
At three Weight Watchers points a pop, these portable treats are the ideal diet-friendly crowd pleaser. Richly seasoned ground turkey pairs perfectly with flaky puff pastry, making each bite burst with flavor and texture. Plus, they pack well in your picnic basket and are an excellent companion to al fresco salads and sides.
2. Weight Watchers Tortellini Salad
I adore tortellini salad. It’s a brilliant way to combine cheese, carbs, and some fresh veg in a great homage to the season. This three-point version features all the flavor with far fewer calories than the original, featuring briny olives and artichokes, juicy cherry tomatoes, zesty Italian dressing, and plenty of plump cheese tortellini.
3. Raspberry Poke Cake
This four-point cake is a kid-friendly classic, featuring bright raspberry flavor and a beautiful, deep-red and golden-yellow cake that’s perfect for your springtime picnic. I keep the calorie count low with smart swaps, like a light butter substitute and monk fruit powder, and use a combination of Greek yogurt and zero-sugar Jell-O powder for the creamy frosting.
4. Chicken Pasta Salad
Combining two picnic classics, chicken and pasta, this dish is packed with good-for-you protein, nutrient-rich vegetables, and hearty carbs. A creamy, Greek yogurt-based dressing ties it all together, and it clocks in at just four Weight Watchers points a serving, so you can snack guilt-free.
5. Weight Watchers Vietnamese Spring Rolls
Make these three-point Vietnamese spring rolls the next time you want to feature something a little different, yet still diet-friendly and nutritious, at your next picnic. Plus, they’re an excellent way to clean out your crisper. I like a combination of different-colored bell peppers, cabbage, carrot, and mango, but you can use anything you have on hand.
6. Refreshing Mango Salsa
Skip the store-bought chip dips and make this zero-point mango salsa instead. I promise you, the bright flavors of juicy mango, fiery jalapeno, green bell pepper, and red onion, seasoned with tart lime juice, salt, and a sprinkle of cilantro, will only get better the longer they mingle, making this salsa an excellent picnic option.
7. Mini Corndog Muffins
These two-point mini corn dog muffins hit all the nostalgic high notes. Plus, it’s easy to make your own cornmeal base, with just a few simple, pantry staple ingredients. They store easily, and the classic combination of slightly sweet cornbread and rich, meaty hot dog is a universal winner.
8. Weight Watchers Coleslaw
No picnic is complete without coleslaw, which is why this version is always on my picnic list. It’s only one Weight Watchers point per serving, thanks to some smart swaps that deliver all of the flavor with none of the guilt. I keep the base creamy and low-calorie with non-fat Greek yogurt and use a combination of spices and vinegar to provide plenty of contrast.
9. Black Bean and Corn Salad
Black beans and corn are a match made in flavor heaven, and they are also nutritional heavyweights. This one-point salad is a simple combination of canned black beans and corn, a ripe tomato, diced jalapeno, red onion, and a bit of cilantro. Feta cheese adds tons of flavor, and a nuanced dressing with lime and honey ties it all together.
10. Zucchini Walnut Bread
How do you make homestyle zucchini bread even better? Add walnuts! This three-point recipe showcases the classic flavors of vanilla and cinnamon-rich zucchini bread, with plain Greek yogurt and unsweetened applesauce adding delicious consistency and layers of flavor without the fat. The walnuts take it to the next level, though, adding a welcome crunch and rich taste.
11. Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Once you try these Buffalo chicken wraps, you’ll never fall prey to the siren call of the drive-thru again. At eight Weight Watchers points per serving, they’re a bit of a splurge, but bound to be the star of your next picnic. The combination of Frank’s hot sauce-marinated chicken breast with cool Ranch dressing and shredded vegetables is epic and the perfect springtime treat.
12. Cucumber Avocado Salad
This light and flavorful salad is an amazing antidote to heavier picnic fare. It’s four Weight Watchers points per serving, and I love how it showcases some of spring’s most delightful seasonal fare: cool cucumbers, creamy avocados, juicy cherry tomatoes, and peppery red onions.
13. Weight Watchers Banana Pudding
Banana pudding was one of the staple desserts of my childhood, so I’m thrilled to enjoy it with my family without sabotaging my diet. At just four points per serving, this banana pudding and Nilla wafer dessert, is pure nostalgia, and a great way to cap off a successful family picnic.
14. Air-Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes are one of the unsung heroes of springtime fare, making a tangy, crisp, and utterly delicious side dish. The air fryer cuts down on calories, and this four-point version is a great way to enjoy this classic Southern American treat at your next picnic.
15. Weight Watchers Coconut Cream Pie
At six points per serving, this Weight Watchers-friendly coconut cream pie is packed with shortcut ingredients and smart swaps that make it both easy to prepare and kind to your waistline. I use applesauce in the graham cracker crust for flavor without added fat, and Greek yogurt in the pie base for a velvety and skinny texture.
16. Tex-Mex Potato Salad
This four-point Tex-Mex potato salad takes your traditional picnic fare and gives it a serious glow-up in the form of Rotel tomatoes and green chilis, avocado, and taco seasoning mix. You’ll also get all of the standard potato salad flavors you love, like perfectly-cooked russet potatoes, and a satiny Greek-yogurt dressing with a touch of lime juice.
17. Niçoise Salad
When I’m in the mood for a fancy picnic, but need something light, portable, and tasty, I go for this one-point Niçoise salad. It’s a bold choice, featuring flavorful tuna, briny capers, black olives, anchovy fillets, and new potatoes, along with cherry tomatoes and trimmed green beans. Paired with a simple apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil dressing, it’s one of the most sophisticated dishes on my list.
18. Weight Watchers Egg Salad
This creamy, delicious egg salad is zero Weight Watchers points thanks to its rich Greek yogurt base. It’s also packed with flavor, with bright chopped green onions, spicy Dijon mustard, red onion, and crisp celery. I like to add a bit of parsley for color, and season with salt and pepper before serving.
19. Butterfinger Balls
As a sucker for Butterfinger’s candy and a lover of all thing graham-cracker-based, I full approve of these four Weight Watcher point Butterfinger balls. I use reduced-fat peanut butter, low-fat graham crackers, and light butter substitute to keep the calories low, and a touch of vanilla to offset the richness of the Butterfinger candy.
20. Air Fryer Pickles
These fried pickles with a creamy dipping sauce only taste like they’ll break your diet. In reality, they’re just one Weight Watchers point per serving, thanks to the magic of your air fryer. I use dill pickle chips for a deep, tangy flavor that goes well with seasoned Japanese-style panko breadcrumbs and a Greek yogurt-based dipping sauce.
21. Weight Watchers BBQ Macaroni Salad
At two points per serving, this spicy riff on traditional macaroni salad is bound to become one of your next picnic mainstays. Plus, it’s a good way to sneak in some extra veggies in the form of bright bell peppers, jalapenos, and red onion. Greek yogurt and low-point BBQ sauce combine with a spice blend and hot sauce for a deeply layered dressing that brings the wow factor.
Treat yourself and your loved ones to some exceptional picnic fare that’s also low in points this spring. These twenty-one recipes are always welcome in my picnic basket, and I think that you’ll love them just as much as I do.
