Summer is a great time of year for picnicking. Whether you are in the backyard, at a park, or traveling, you can have a great outdoor picnic. Eating in the fresh air is so refreshing, and an adventure for kids. Here are some tips to help you pack everything you need for a fun and tasty picnic.
A picnic blanket or two is a necessity. If you want to take it up a notch, bring some pillows to sit on around the blanket. Try to minimize the use of utensils, and use multi-purpose or plastic utensils.
You don’t need a traditional picnic basket, but if you have one that is great. Collapsible baskets or totes save space, too! Thermal totes or coolers work best for keeping your food and drinks cold. If you have anything that needs to be refrigerated, make sure you have a cooler with ice or ice packs to keep food safe. A couple of baggies filled with ice also work, and you can add the ice to drinks later.
Use baggies or plastic containers (with lids!) to keep food fresh. Sandwiches or the fixings are great items to have for a quick and easy picnic. If keeping things cold is an issue, go with PB & J sandwiches. Try crackers instead of bread to mix things up a little. Chicken is also a favorite picnic finger food. Drinks are usually best stored separately, since you can get in and out easier and not squish your food items. Bottled water, juice, lemonade or soda is always good picks.
Think portable desserts, too. Brownies, cookies, fruit and even cupcakes are small but tasty treats. Snacks like nuts, veggies or chips are nice picnic sides, too. If you need condiments try to get small sizes of things like mustard, ketchup, pepper and salt.
Don’t forget to pack whatever plates, napkins or cups you might need. Paper towels are handy as well, since you can use them instead of napkins, and for a quick cleanup. Some kind of wet wipes are good to have, whether you need them for sticky fingers or dirty hands. Remember to pack a can opener, bottle opener or cutting knife, if you need those items. Lastly, make sure to bring a few trash bags to leave the area clean.
Enjoy your picnic with friends and family, no matter where you go. The experience you share will be what is remembered.
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