Picnics are an affordable and fun way for families to spend a lazy afternoon. It can even be a great way for moms and toddlers to get out of the house on a boring weekday. The key to a great picnic is the foods you bring along. You want foods that are easy to eat and leave little cleanup. Let’s take a closer look at what to take to your picnic in the park.
Finger Foods
Finger foods are wonderful because you don’t have to worry about bringing along silverware. You can also package everything so that the foods can be eaten directly from the container. This leaves very little cleanup.
Great finger foods include sandwiches, cheese and meat cubes, and fried chicken. You’ll also notice that all of these foods can be eaten cold. This means that you don’t have to worry about keeping anything hot. Everything can be transported together, making it easier to pack your picnic basket.
Bottled Water and Juice Boxes
You want to make sure to have plenty of liquids on hand. If you will be traveling a good distance to your picnic location or plan to do activities before lunch, you can freeze your water bottles and juice boxes. This will allow you to keep everything in the picnic basket nice and cold without the need for ice packs. You’ll have more room in your basket for the good stuff. If you want to keep your foods even colder, invest in an insulated picnic basket.
Fruit
Fruit is a great dessert not only because it’s healthier, but there’s little cleanup and it’s easy to serve. Apples, oranges, pears, plums, peaches, berries, and bananas all make good options. You can also slice a watermelon at home and package wedges in zip top bags. If you want a really refreshing treat, freeze the watermelon wedges. It will keep your foods cold and be nice and cold when you eat it.
Blanket
Not every area you’re going to will have picnic tables or have tables available. You want a blanket that has a backing that won’t allow any water from the ground to soak through. Make sure the blanket is large enough for your entire family, plus the food. If you want to help keep bugs away, place fabric softener sheets under your blanket. Most bugs hate the smell.
Sunscreen
Sunscreen is another must-have. It doesn’t matter if it’s overcast or completely cloudy, you want to make sure to apply sunscreen every two hours. This will ensure that everyone is protected and won’t go home with a nasty sunburn.
Trash Bag
Last, but not least, don’t forget a trash bag. The tips above will help cut down on trash but there will still be a little bit. Instead of piling everything back into your cooler, use a small trash bag. This will allow you to stop at a gas station on the way home and easily throw away your mess.
A picnic is a wonderful way to spend a summer afternoon and with these tips you can ensure that you have the best time possible. Best of all though, you’ll have a lot less cleanup.
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