National Picnic Month encourages you to get out and celebrate the warm summer days! A picnic can take place anywhere from your backyard to a local park. Packing a perfect picnic doesn’t have to be overwhelming but there are a few key things to remember.
Food safety tips for picnics:
- Use plenty of ice packs to keep food cold
- Pro Tip: Fill water bottles about two-thirds full and put them in the freezer overnight. They’ll help to keep your food cold and as they they melt, you’ll have ice cold water to drink.
- For food safety reasons, none of your perishables should be out of the cooler for more than two hours.
- Mayo-heavy salads such as potato salad,which can spoil more quickly in the sun.
The best foods for picnics:
- For sandwiches, choose a sturdy bread and assemble them strategically:
- Place softer and juicier ingredients like tomatoes and condiments, in between the other fixings to keep them from making the bread soggy.
- For dessert, choose options that are pre-portioned and don’t require silverware to serve or eat.
- Think cookies, hand pies, and bars.
- The frozen water bottles won’t be ready to drink the first few hours so be sure to pack additional zero calorie drinks like unsweet tea or diet lemonade.
- Consider packing a refillable cup with a lid for each person (or bring a plastic jug and individual cups).
Miscellaneous items to pack for a picnic:
- 1-2 big blankets or sheets
- Paper or reusable plates
- A roll of paper towels
- Wet wipes, or damp washcloths sealed in a zip-top bag.
- A small knife wrapped in cardboard for safety, and a small cutting board. Just in case!
- Trash bags
- Sunscreen and bug spray