How to Meal Plan for a Picnic by Joanne

It’s picnic season! Picnicking is one of the best parts about summer if you ask me, and today we’re going over how to plan out a lovely picnic. Whether you’re treating yourself, going out with a significant other, or want to go out with the whole family or a group of friends, picnics can be a refreshing way to spend a few hours outside.

I admit that I’m a total picnic romantic, but I really think it’s one of life’s greatest simple pleasures. I don’t just love picnics themselves; I also love the idea of a picnic, plus actually planning and packing them. Picnics always feel special to me, and it’s something to “do” that doesn’t cost anything.

(Well, there’s the cost of the food, but you’re just taking a meal you need to eat anyway and doing it outside, so I don’t think that counts).

 
 

Plan the food

First, decide how much you want to eat. Do you want just a few snacks, or do you want a hearty meal?

If you’re only doing snacks, the prep is often a lot easier, but an actual meal can be more satisfying and have more staying power if you’re spending the day outside.

Next decide on a theme. Sometimes if I’m going on an impromptu picnic, I’ll just throw various leftovers together in a picnic bag and get out the door, but most of the time I like to put a little thought into it ahead of time so the meal feels cohesive.

 
 

Here are a few picnic theme ideas, ranging in heartiness.

Wine & Cheese: Think of this as like a portable cheese and charcuterie platter you’d do for a party, but right in your picnic bag. Pick 2-3 cheeses that you enjoy, 2-3 different types of charcuterie, a batch of roasted nuts, and a complementary fruit like fresh green grapes or sliced melon. Then pack some wine to go with it. They even have special to-go bottles that you can put the wine in so you don’t have to worry about the glass.

Summer Tomato Picnic: One of my favorite picnic themes is to center around tomatoes, one of the fruits that I most look forward to eating in the summer when they’re at their peak. I’ll pack up a big container of fresh bruschetta, a loaf of bread, and some caprese pasta salad for a hearty vegetarian-friendly meal.

Greek Picnic: If I want to include some meat in a picnic, I like chicken the best because it tastes great cold. Most often, I’ll cook up a batch of chicken souvlaki, then pack some sliced tomatoes, kalamata olives, pepperoncinis, and tzatziki to enjoy with the chicken. You can also bring some pita along and make chicken souvlaki tzatziki pockets.

Light and Fresh Salads: Since it’s usually hot out, sometimes I only want to eat something that’s light, like a salad. Generally, it’s best to stay away from lettuce-based salads, as they wilt if you put the dressing on beforehand, unless you’re willing to bring the dressing separately and toss it at your destination. I usually pack things like quinoa salad, broccoli salad, bean salad, or if I want something heartier, tuna salad or egg salad.

 
 

Plan drinks

You can bring pretty much any kind of drink you want on a picnic, as they now sell special thermoses for everything. The one I have in my bag is a Corkcicle that was gifted to me, but there are many different brands making these.

For cold drinks like homemade lemonade, I recommend buying an insulative thermos made for keeping cold liquids chilly.

If you want to drink wine or another other bottled beverage, they sell special containers to transport these things without having to worry about broken glass or bottles.

Honestly, since I drink water most of the time anyway, I usually just bring a water bottle and call it a day.

 

Plan for mess making

Trust me, always bring some sort of cleaning towel, whether it’s a few paper towels, napkins, or a small kitchen towel. Sometimes it’s windy, or there aren’t proper tables, and messes happen. You’ll want something on hand to clean things up, wipe up liquids, and so on.

It’s also nice to bring some sort of wet wipe to wipe your hands afterward (and sometimes even before the picnic, if your hands have gotten dirty along the way).

 
 

Pack it up and go

A few years ago I purchased this lightweight, insulated picnic cooler, and it has been really nice to have. The old-school wicker picnic baskets are adorable and nostalgic, but they won’t keep the food cold, so those are best for snacks or a quick journey.

For food containers, I like to pack everything in lightweight plastic tupperware. Most of the food storage I use at home is made of glass, but carrying around glass containers outside is heavy!

If you’re bringing cold food, make sure to pack an ice pack or two in your bag so your food doesn’t spoil.

And finally, don’t forget to bring cutlery if you need it. This all just depends on if you’re packing finger food, or meals that need a fork or spoon to enjoy.

 
 

Enjoy!

Most of all, enjoy your picnic! I find picnicking to be a form of self-care, and a restorative way to pass a couple hours with yourself or with others in an outdoor setting. For many of us who are indoors much of the year during cold winters, getting outside in the summer helps bring peace and calm to our days.

What are your favorite picnic foods? Share in the comments below. Happy picnicking!