Pack a picnic lunch and head outside for some great family time – here are some tips to keep it relatively stress-free!
Planning a picnic lunch is a great way to enjoy the summer weather and spend some quality time together as a family. But, nothing ruins a picnic faster than forgetting to pack some essentials. Here are some tips to help make sure your picnic is a success!
1. Keep the food simple
Picnic food needs to be easy to pack and serve. It also helps if it can be made ahead of time so you aren't bringing a lot of condiments or kitchen tools along. Here are some suggestions for easy to pack, pre-made foods:
- Fresh fruits – grapes, watermelon slices, berries (washed and cut)
- Fresh vegetables – carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, peppers (washed and cut up)
- Add this homemade hummus for a great veggie dip
- Pre-made sandwiches – if you can, make them ahead of time. Using a wrap instead of bread will keep the sandwiches from getting soggy.
- This kale and quinoa salad can be made ahead and packs well (you can add the dressing ahead of time too)
- Mini-muffins and granola bars are great, easy snack options
- This homemade granola is delicious
2. Safety first
Don't forget hats for everyone, sunscreen, bug repellant and a first aid kit.
It's also essential to keep your food cold until you are ready to eat. Food can start to spoil in about an hour once its out in the sun. A great way to keep your food cold is to use frozen juice boxes and water bottles. This is a great space saver too since you won't have to pack ice packs as well as drinks. Try not to pack too much extra food – anything not eaten will likely spoil before you get home and will have to be thrown out.
- Here are some great ideas for food that pack well on a hot day – 7 Outdoor Foods to Beat the Heat
3. Plan ahead
Here's a checklist of some essential items, regardless of what you've packed to eat:
- Blanket
- Baby wipes
- Paper towel
- Garbage bags/large Ziploc bags
- Disposable plates/cups/cutlery
- Small cutting board
- Serving cutlery or tools (knives wrapped in paper towel, spoons for salads)
- Any condiments (only bring what you need – not the whole bottle)
4. Don’t forget the fun!
Bring some activities you can do toether as a family – baseball equipment, a beach ball or frisbee to toss around, bubbles and sand toys for little ones. And, don't forget your camera to capture those precious family memories!
