From Cold Chicken to coleslaw, sunscreen to sweaters and of course, don’t forget the thermos of Smoothies, planning the perfect picnic can be quite the process! Especially considering a picnic is such a casual affair. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do it in style! A good picnic can easily be one of the most creative and fun culinary pursuits you take part in all Summer – you just need a little planning.
The Food
If you can pack it in a container, you can take it on a picnic. There are some particular classics like cold, leftover chicken that you can use to build various sandwiches and wraps or on crackers with some extra cranberry sauce or favorite jelly, as well as good old fashioned creamy (or sweet/sour) coleslaw that makes good use of staples like cabbage, carrots or even some kholrabi!
Other things we love to pack for the perfect picnic: Various cured meats, cheeses and fruit like sliced apples, pears and grapes. We love to get 3 or 4 of each and let people assemble their own sandwiches or crackers. The sky is the limit so think about what you like to munch on and let the seasons guide you to dish and ingredient ideas!
Of course, no picnic would be complete without dessert. We recommend something that’s easily portable like brownies, mini-blackberry pies, or if you have access to a BBQ or fire pit, smores!
Now, food is just half of what matters when it comes to chowing down on a good picnic. You WILL need something to wash it all down so we recommend smoothies! They’re refreshing, delicious and healthy and you can make them ahead of time and just pop em in a thermos so when someone gets thirsty, you aren’t looking for a place to plug in your juicer in the park.
If you need a bit of inspiration for dishes, the New York Times offers this comprehensive list of perfect picnic dishes (1o1 of them!)
The Gear
So you’ve got a spectacular menu planned, some good drinks ready for slurping and the sun is shining! Now what? For the perfect picnic to be that – perfect – you’ll want to make sure you pack along the essential gear: A blanket or big piece of fabric to sit on (also functions well as a cover for splinter-laden picnic tables), cutlery, plates, glasses and napkins.
By spending a sunny Spring day thrifting at your nearest second hand stores or even taking a morning to tear through some garage sales, you can find some stellar supplies on a budget, not to mention new inspiration for your kitchen!
Make sure your phone or camera is well charged too and of course, remember to bring cards, a board game or two or a Frisbee to throw around. Make it a fun experience that you’ll want to remember!
And lastly, you’ll want to make sure that you do right by the environment. Bring along a couple of large bags that you can put your trash in – make sure that what you pack in, you pack out.
The Nature Preparedness
Nothing spoils the perfect picnic more than nature and considering you’re going to be dining in nature, you want to be prepared!
To make sure no one gets too cold or too sunburnt, make sure everyone packs along a sweater which can shield you from both chills and sun overexposure, sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
And to avoid pesky pests, a little insect repellent never hurt anybody.
Planning the perfect picnic can look like a lot of different things but one truth, across all picnic adventures stays constant: Your picnic is as great as you make it! The possibilities for food, theme, entertainment and location are endless! Plan one (or several) this Summer and work your way through new culinary adventures while you do it! We can’t wait to see where you’ll go!
Keep Eating! Keep Innovating!
Have you ever hosted a picnic? What do you like to bring on one? Anything we missed that SHOULD be included? Tell us about your picnic tips, adventures and dreams in the comments or on Facebook.
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