A Superfood Summer Picnic

Just over a week ago, we spent our last Friday night in LA at Barnsdall Park, picnic-ing with friends and watching the sun set behind the Capitol Records building with the Griffith Observatory and Hollywood sign looking on from a distance.  A pretty perfect way to spend your last Friday night in LA, if you ask me.  There is nothing more quintessentially summer than enjoying a meal outdoors with friends. In lieu of the traditional turkey sandwich and potato salad fare, though, we created this summer superfood menu, complete with NESTLÉ Damak, a new-to-the-US dark chocolate bar with pistachios, that's sure to have everyone crowding around your picnic blanket.  We packed cancer-fighting, free radical blocking, nutrient dense superfoods into every course of your summer picnic meal!  Here's what you have to look forward to...

What's On The Menu:

• Roasted Almonds
• Grilled Salmon (prepared ahead of time and chilled, recipe here)
• Curried Broccoli Salad (recipe here!)
• Cherry Quinoa Salad with Spinach (recipe here!)
• Fresh Berries
• NESTLÉ Damak Dark Chocolate (available at Walgreens!)
• Iced Green Tea
• Lemon Slices to Garnish

The Superfood Benefits:

Dark Chocolate: Rich in flavonoids, antioxidants that have been shown to lower blood pressure, improve blood flow, and boost overall heart health.

Pistachios: Naturally cholesterol-free snack that are high in fiber and protein. A one-ounce serving of these nuts has almost as much potassium as a small banana. Pistachios can also significantly reduce levels of LDL cholesterol (the “bad” type) while boosting antioxidant levels.

Almonds: The most nutritionally dense nut, meaning they offer the highest concentration of overall nutrients per calorie and per ounce. What's more, almonds are a good source of potassium, calcium, vitamin E, magnesium, phosphorous, and iron.

Salmon: Contains omega-3 fatty acids that protect against heart disease and boost overall brain health.

Broccoli: Loaded with fiber, antioxidants to fight cancer, and vitamin C to aid in iron absorption.

Quinoa: Naturally gluten-free and contains iron, B-vitamins, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, vitamin E and fiber. It is one of only a few plant foods that are considered a complete protein and comprised of all pernine essential amino acids.

Spinach:  A good source of vitamins A, B2, C and K, and also contains magnesium, manganese, folate, iron, calcium and potassium.  It's also loaded with flavonoids which are believed to fight against free radicals and cancer.

Blueberries: Packed with antioxidants and phytoflavinoids, these berries are also high in potassium and vitamin C, making them the top choice of doctors and nutritionists. Not only can they lower your risk of heart disease and cancer, they are also anti-inflammatory.

Strawberries: Loaded with antioxidants that help your skin repair damage caused by environmental factors like pollution and UV rays. Plus, they're packed with vitamin C.

Green Tea: Green tea prevents cancer on a number of fronts: by protecting against damage to DNA, the trigger for cancer, and by shutting down a key molecule in the body that plays a significant role in the development of cancer. It has been shown to inhibit the formation of new blood vessels that help spread tumors. Green tea also repairs damage to livers caused by alcohol, protects against diseases such as Parkinson's and rheumatoid arthritis, and restricts the build-up of cholesterol in the blood. Female tea drinkers have stronger bones than non-tea drinkers, and this reduces the risk of osteoporosis.

Lemons: provide a lot of vitamin C, but the amount per serving is pretty impressive at 187% of the daily value, making it a super infection fighter. Teamed with flavonoid glycosides called esperetin and naringenin (found in most citrus fruits), the combination provides radical free-radical zapping activity which means they protect against damage to blood vessels and prevent cholesterol build up in artery walls and even heart disease.

Photography by Emily Morgan

This post was sponsored byNESTLÉ Damak and Walgreens.  Thanks for supporting the brands that support this site!  Join the #DiscoverDamak Twitter Party from 8-9pm EST on June 23rd in order to win some exciting prizes.  You can also enjoy $2 off Two: Beginning June 26th, receive $2 off when you purchase any two (2) NESTLĖ Damak® Chocolate with Pistachios 2.82 oz. bars. Go to Walgreens.com/Coupons to receive your coupon, then visit your local Walgreens with coupon and card in order to redeem the offer.