New York City is a picnicker’s paradise. From Central Park to Battery Park, right around the corner from our home in Tribeca, getting out with the kids on a warm afternoon for a bite is not only a treat, it’s a chance to stay active and healthy if you make the right choices. We love to go biking and then finish off the ride with a blanket and a basket of goodies on the grass. And, when the recipes are simple enough for the kids to prepare, you know your day as Mom just got that much easier. Citibabes’ cooking instructor in SoHo, Teacher Marilyn, created some of these easy-to-make family favorites in her class, Pots and Pans, for a day at the park or a rainy day picnic inside–you never know when you might get caught in a summer thunder storm!

- Tracey Frost Rensky, CEO & founder, Citibabes

Wraps: Travel-friendly, totally customizable and chock-full of fresh, healthy ingredients, wraps are probably the easiest entrée around for a picnic. We like to use whole wheat pitas or sprouted grain tortillas for added fiber. Skip the mayo for avocado slices or hummus instead – both deliver that same creamy texture without the saturated fat. Layer with fresh veggies, grilled chicken cubes, and even halved grapes for a tasty lunch.

Baked Potato Chips: There’s nothing like the crunchy, salty goodness of a potato chip at a picnic, but it’s tough to feel good about the nutritional value of this pre-packaged snack food. Instead, we like to use sweet potatoes and slice them extra thin at home using a mandolin. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and lightly brush or spray with olive oil. Have kids sprinkle their favorite spice on each chip – salt, pepper, paprika… anything! – and bake for 10 minutes on each side, making sure to season both sides. Yum!

Fruit Pops: My daughters, Natasha, 5, and Chloe, 2.5, seem to be able to hear the ice cream truck from 20 blocks away on a summer day. Luckily, when we plan ahead, I can offer them homemade fruit ice pops instead as soon as that silly jingle comes a-calling! Just about any fruit combination works but instead of the sugar or concentrated juice most recipes call for, we make up our own juice smoothies in the blender. A current favorite is watermelon, strawberries, and fresh mint. Blend it together – with a little water for smoothness – and pour into paper cups with popsicle sticks in the center to freeze. Peel away the cups when you’re ready to eat. Such a refreshing way to end a summer’s day.

Enjoy!