‘Tis the season for eating outdoors! Whether you’re planning a picnic, heading to the beach for an afternoon in the sun, or spending your day hiking a nature trail, you’re going to need to pack some grub, but coming up with picnic-friendly paleo snacks can sometimes feel like a recipe for disaster.

The snacks that most non-paleo eaters will pack, like easy-to-transport chips and dips, granola bars, or even sandwiches, are tough to make paleo compliant. At the same time, many of the paleo snacks you’re used to eating at home, like stuffed veggies, deviled eggs, or avocado bowls, may prove unwieldy.

Luckily, with a bit of ingenuity, you’ll soon find that there are actually quite a few paleo snacks that you can pack for your outing.

1. Olive Packs

Olives are a delicious, briny snack that add a special occasion flair to picnics. We love GAEA Organic olive packs, which are sold in snack-sized pouches for easy transportation and enjoyment. The packs are available in several flavors, including plain Kalamata and chili and black pepper green olives.

2. Guacamole and Crudités

Guacamole might seem like a no-go at first, seeing as it seems to go hand-in-hand with chips, but you can just as easily enjoy guac with crudités like carrots cut on the bias (for more surface area), large broccoli or cauliflower florets, and celery sticks. Go heavy on the lime juice so that your guac stays nice and green.

3. Organic Jerky

For a protein boost that’s easy to throw in your bag, jerky is a great option. We love the slightly peppery buffalo jerky from Patagonia Provisions, which is made from American bison that roam and graze freely on the South Dakota plains. It’s grass-fed, free-range, and antibiotic- and hormone-free – and it comes in convenient snack-sized packages.

4. Paleo Granola

Most granola contains some sort of grain, and it therefore isn’t paleo friendly, but the paleo granolas from Back Roads Granola are completely different. Made with paleo-friendly dried fruits and nuts, these granolas are great for an energy boost, and they come in unique flavors like apricot-chai, coconut crunch, maple-pecan, and pineapple-ginger.

5. Mini Quiches

Crustless quiches are not only a great way to use up whatever leftover meat and veg you have in the fridge, they’re also easily portable and even freezable, meaning that you can make a few dozen in advance and grab them to go when you need to. Bake them in a mini-muffin tin for a two-bite snack.

6. Energy Bites

Energy bites are another great recipe to have up your sleeve. This version features superfood turmeric and loads of protein in the form of almond butter and protein powder. A little bit of coconut and maple syrup add just the right amount of sweetness.

7. Spiced Roasted Nuts

Nuts are a great source of energy and easy to carry around, but if you feel like basic nuts need a bit more zing, why not try spicing them up by combining your favorite nuts – almonds, cashews, hazelnuts… anything goes – with a bit of coconut oil, some Himalayan salt and your favorite herbs and spices. Just roast for about 20 minutes, and they’re ready to enjoy.

Try combos like cinnamon-cayenne, turmeric-cumin, or even za’atar-sumac for a new play on this paleo snack standby.

8. Zucchini Chips

If you’re getting a little sick of kale chips, seasonal summer zucchini chips are the way to go.

The key to making a great zucchini chip is getting rid of as much moisture as possible, so slice your zucchini ultra-thin on a mandoline and allow them to sit on a dishtowel for a few minutes before roasting on a silpat or nonstick pan with salt, coconut oil, and whatever seasonings you like. When they’re nice and crisp, cool them and then pack them in a container with a paper towel, which will absorb any excess moisture between when they’re packed and when you get to enjoy them.

9. Cocoroons

If you want a little something sweet to round out your picnic, we love Cocoroons from Wonderfully Raw. These soft macaroons are made with shredded coconut and maple syrup and then flavored with different ingredients like lemon or chocolate.

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Born in an Ithaca, New York kitchen when founders Samantha Abrams and Ian Gaffney developed a special macaroon recipe one night, Emmy’s Organics has become of the most conscious snack food producers in our country.

Priding themselves on the use of organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and raw ingredients, the company is also committed to eco packaging, sustainable business practices, and exceptional employee care. As Samantha affirms, “we put a lot of effort into every step of the process and we’re very aware of the impact we make.”

Low temperature dehydration is the process used to make the Emmy’s Organics tasty products. Nothing is heated above 115°F so that many essential and beneficial nutrients are retained in these energy-packed snacks. Emmy’s macaroons are available in a range of delectable flavors and the scrumptious granolas, trail mixes and sprouted sunflower seeds are great snacks when on the go. Sweeter treats include raw food super fudge and the mouth-watering chocolate sauce sweetened with agave – perfect over a bowl of fresh fruit! Their fantastic gift boxes are the ideal way to send some birthday wishes or warm greetings – who wouldn’t love a box of tasty and healthy treats?

All of the products are nut, coconut and fruit based, so the ingredients come from all over the world. As Samantha says, “we really care about each ingredient that goes into our products. We have a lot of control over the quality of our product as everything is made in-house.” The company communicates directly with its suppliers to learn the stories behind the nuts, fruits, oils and sweeteners. “A dream of mine would be to connect with a local farm that can provide us with our ingredients,” Samantha says.

Sharing a love of healthy food and wellness with Ian, Samantha has always been dedicated to and passionate about conscious living and “looking for natural ways to take care of herself.” After experimenting with a strictly raw diet for a long time, she realized the benefits of running her body on pure foods that are full of nutrition and energy.

Samantha and Ian initially worked in Ian’s mother’s (Emmy’s) kitchen, selling their macaroons and other culinary creations at farmer’s markets and small local stores. Soon after the treats began appearing in Whole Foods Markets across the East Coast and by 2010 the company had grown large enough that a move to a manufacturing facility in Ithaca. Emmy’s Organics is now available in stores on both coastlines and nationwide online.

Samantha and Ian’s efforts and success were recognized in 2012 when Miss Abrams was invited to the White House for President Obama’s signing of the JOBS Act. “It was one of those experiences that I’ll never forget and I felt so supported as a small business owner” Samantha says. As a young woman with a successful and consciously-driven venture, Samantha truly is an example of the potential for creating sustainable solutions that actually benefit customers and create strong community influences. “What inspires me is making an impact on people. We hope that when people pick up our products they experience the benefits of them and also realize the simplicity of the ingredients, the integrity of our values and how sustainably we operate our company. We hope that through that we can inspire people to make better choices, whether it’s with their diet or their environmental impact or any type of lifestyle choice.”

In honor of Earth Day, the company is donating 15 percent of all April proceeds to the Youth Farm Project in Ithaca. The project provides teens ages 14-18 with the opportunity to learn about growing food for their community, preparing that food and working together to achieve their goals. Take advantage of a 10 percent discount on all Emmy’s Organics items for the rest of the month by using the code YOUTHFARM when checking out online!

Images: Emmy’s Organics

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