The Perfect Picnic: Tips and Tricks!
The perfect picnic is the one you plan, pack, and enjoy whether you’re by yourself or with family and friends. You’ll prep and pack your favourite foods, and enjoy a meal surrounded by nature. Who doesn’t like the sound of that?
What to Pack?
The main thing to remember is you’ll be carrying everything. You may be taking your car to the chosen location or walking/cycling there from home, but in the end, there is bound to come a time where you’re carrying items to the final spot you’ll settle on to eat your meal. You may even have a bit of a hike to find the perfect spot, so with that in mind, you’re going to want to make sure you can carry it all in one trip. So, pack smart and pack light because you don’t want to be worn out before you get settled.
You’ll need something to sit on if you’re not going to an area with picnic tables, so packing a blanket you’re willing to potentially get dirty is a good idea. You’ll need a sturdy bag big enough to carry everything, and good idea of what you can legitimately carry for a distance without struggling. The idea is to pack smart, but not heavy. You also need to remember that what you bring in, you may have to bring out if there isn’t an area to dispose of garbage.
Time for Talk Food
Think portable and easy when planning your menu. The weight of your bag may become an obstacle to you during the day so be aware of what you can realistically truck around with you all day.
Sandwiches are easy, nutritious, and can take up a relatively small space when packed. All you need is your favourite recipe that can stand up to some travel time. Veggie sticks and cut fruit are great treats as well because depending on what you choose, they can be very refreshing. Nuts are also a great option as they are light and very portable, plus they pack a very nutritious punch for their size. The sky is the limit for your menu but you want to make sure you take into account what needs to be kept refrigerated.
It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere, Right?!
When you have something to eat, you’re going to want to have something to drink as well. If the day is hot, you’ll want something refreshing. If the occasion is something special, you may want something special to mark the occasion. If that’s the case, make sure the area you plan to have your picnic allows for you to consume alcohol and that you are safe and responsible in doing so.
Freezing, or cooling your drinks ahead of time means they can act as cold packs to keep food cool in your bag as you travel. Since you’re going to pack them, you might as well make them do double duty if you can. Individual drinks also make sense as you won’t need to pack cups as well.
Now that you have a few tips and tricks and the idea of a picnic in mind, get out there and embrace nature!
Until next time!
Julie
