by Peggy Strickland

Created on: February 11, 2010

Have you ever noticed how the flavor of even the simplest sandwich is enhanced at most any outdoor activity?  From a picnic at the beach or park to a tailgating party at a football game, the food just plain tastes better!

Just thinking of a picnic should bring to mind images of sun and fun and great food.  Make your next picnic one to remember by putting a little extra thought and care into preparing your picnic basket.

Prepare Your Gear

An expensive and extravagant gourmet picnic basket is not a requirement for a great picnic, but having some sort of container to organize your utensils and food is a big help.  Even an oversized canvas bag can become a perfect picnic “basket,” when equipped and provisioned just right.

Keep a selection of forks, knives and spoons in a large bag.  These can be plastic or discards from your silverware drawer.  Also handy are those little prepackaged handouts from fast food restaurants.

Reusable plastic plates are inexpensive and durable.  Buy paper plates and napkins as well as paper or plastic cups when they are on sale.  You may want to stock the thinnest, cheapest plates for sandwiches and chips, as well as some better quality plates for bigger meals.  *Think green and stay away from Styrofoam that has no place in our landfills.

Keep your stash of dishes and utensils replenished in case of unexpected guests.

Most prepackaged foods these days come in containers that simply “zip” open.  Still, pack a small bottle/can opener, scissors or sharp knife and corkscrew, and a serrated blade knife for slicing tomatoes, fruits and such. 

Pack extra sandwich bags or other storage bags for leftovers, as well as some disposable bags for trash.

Collapsible coolers can be easily stored and are lightweight and functional.  Small frozen ice packs like Blue Ice containers can be tossed in at the last minute to keep cold foods cold, so keep some in your freezer.

Wet wipes in travel packs are great for your picnic basket, but can be expensive.  Again, try to grab them when they are on sale.  A couple of cloth towels or washcloths might not be a bad idea as an economical alternative for quick cleanups, and bottled water, hand cleaner or sanitizer for when no faucets are handy.

Bug repellent, unfortunately, is often needed.  Enclose this in a sealable plastic bag or other container to keep it separate from food or utensils.

Plan Your Food

Picnic foods

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