10 Key Ingredients for a Perfect Picnic
It’s International Picnic Day! Here are the essentials you need to prepare a fun and relaxing alfresco outing for your family and friends
One of my favourite days, International Picnic Day, is coming up on June 18 and there are really only two ways to celebrate the occasion – by heading outside for an impromptu alfresco feast at lunch (or dinner if you don’t mind braving the chill) or planning an outdoor excursion for this coming weekend, of course! Make sure you check out our list of 10 picnic essentials below before you start organising your open-air shindig, as they’ll ensure your gathering goes off without a hitch and is enjoyed by all.
Your guest list and the amenities available at the sites on your shortlist will also factor into your decision. For example, if young kids will be coming to your picnic, it’s best to choose a venue with lots of open space (or better yet, play equipment), restrooms and baby-changing facilities. Some picnickers may also appreciate a covered table to sit at, rather than having to sit on the ground. Also suss out whether the location has access to running water, and barbecuing facilities if you need to cook up your feast on site.
It’s also important to check whether the location is easily accessible and whether it can accommodate the size of your group. If you’re opening up the invite to four-legged friends, make sure your chosen spot is pet-friendly, too.
It’s also important to check whether the location is easily accessible and whether it can accommodate the size of your group. If you’re opening up the invite to four-legged friends, make sure your chosen spot is pet-friendly, too.
2. A picnic basket packed with all the essentials
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your picnic destination only to find that you left a packet of paper napkins and plastic cutlery on your kitchen bench. That’s why an all-in-one picnic basket is a great investment for any frequent (or even not-so-frequent) picnic-goer. Pack essential, often missed items, like tumblers; spare cutlery; salt, pepper and other condiments; rubbish bags; and even your prized portable speakers.
If you want something that’s easier to lug around, consider buying a compact picnic backpack or insulated picnic tote that’s comfortable to carry and can be stashed away in a cupboard instead.
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your picnic destination only to find that you left a packet of paper napkins and plastic cutlery on your kitchen bench. That’s why an all-in-one picnic basket is a great investment for any frequent (or even not-so-frequent) picnic-goer. Pack essential, often missed items, like tumblers; spare cutlery; salt, pepper and other condiments; rubbish bags; and even your prized portable speakers.
If you want something that’s easier to lug around, consider buying a compact picnic backpack or insulated picnic tote that’s comfortable to carry and can be stashed away in a cupboard instead.
3. A mouth-watering spread of food
A yummy menu is a must for any picnic. While your taste buds will play a big role in deciding what to serve at your outdoor feast, the food preferences of your guests (will kids be attending the picnic or will it be grown-ups only?) and their dietary needs, as well as how much time and effort you wish to put into prepping the food, will also influence your menu. For those who wish to keep it simple, fuss-free and kid-friendly, stick with sandwiches, chicken drumsticks and other finger foods (think sausage rolls, frankfurts and kebabs), while picnickers who prefer fancier fare might like to serve up gourmet salads, roast meat, quiche, bite-size appetisers, and cheese and antipasto platters.
If your gathering is large in number, consider asking everyone to bring a plate, as this will make prepping for the event less stressful, time-consuming and costly for you.
A yummy menu is a must for any picnic. While your taste buds will play a big role in deciding what to serve at your outdoor feast, the food preferences of your guests (will kids be attending the picnic or will it be grown-ups only?) and their dietary needs, as well as how much time and effort you wish to put into prepping the food, will also influence your menu. For those who wish to keep it simple, fuss-free and kid-friendly, stick with sandwiches, chicken drumsticks and other finger foods (think sausage rolls, frankfurts and kebabs), while picnickers who prefer fancier fare might like to serve up gourmet salads, roast meat, quiche, bite-size appetisers, and cheese and antipasto platters.
If your gathering is large in number, consider asking everyone to bring a plate, as this will make prepping for the event less stressful, time-consuming and costly for you.
Remember to have plenty of sweet and savoury treats so your fellow picnickers have something to graze on during the day. My favourite snacks to pack for picnics include crackers and dip (or a delicious damper dip), chips, lollies and baked desserts like cupcakes and brownies, along with vegie sticks, nuts and fresh fruit (grapes, pineapple and watermelon are always crowd-pleasers) to balance out the naughtiness of the other nibblies.
4. A soundtrack of toe-tapping tunes
Lift the mood of your outdoor shindig and give it an up-beat, party-like vibe by bringing an MP3 player and weatherproof speaker to your picnic so you can replace nature’s soundtrack with a playlist of head-bopping tunes – you can’t go wrong with a mixture of top 40 tracks and classic songs that everyone knows and can sing along to. If all else fails, stream the radio on your tablet or smartphone instead.
Lift the mood of your outdoor shindig and give it an up-beat, party-like vibe by bringing an MP3 player and weatherproof speaker to your picnic so you can replace nature’s soundtrack with a playlist of head-bopping tunes – you can’t go wrong with a mixture of top 40 tracks and classic songs that everyone knows and can sing along to. If all else fails, stream the radio on your tablet or smartphone instead.
5. A cosy picnic blanket
No picnic is complete without a soft, comfy and hardwearing picnic rug that you can perch on while you tuck into your alfresco feast and chat away with friends, and later stretch out and nap on once you’ve finished eating. When shopping around for a picnic blanket, I suggest looking for one that’s made from durable material, is machine washable, has waterproof backing, and comes with a carry bag or an attached strap and handle for easy transport and storage.
Remember to bring a few fold-up chairs so guests who have mobility issues or find sitting on the ground painful or uncomfortable have somewhere to sit and relax during the picnic.
No picnic is complete without a soft, comfy and hardwearing picnic rug that you can perch on while you tuck into your alfresco feast and chat away with friends, and later stretch out and nap on once you’ve finished eating. When shopping around for a picnic blanket, I suggest looking for one that’s made from durable material, is machine washable, has waterproof backing, and comes with a carry bag or an attached strap and handle for easy transport and storage.
Remember to bring a few fold-up chairs so guests who have mobility issues or find sitting on the ground painful or uncomfortable have somewhere to sit and relax during the picnic.
6. A selection of thirst-quenching beverages
Remember to stock up on plenty of drinks so your fellow picnic-goers don’t feel parched or become dehydrated while dining outdoors. Bring one or two large bottles of water (add a few slices of lemon or cucumber to the bottles for a hint of flavour), as well as a selection of soft drinks or juice if you’re worried about young guests getting too hopped up on soda.
Remember to stock up on plenty of drinks so your fellow picnic-goers don’t feel parched or become dehydrated while dining outdoors. Bring one or two large bottles of water (add a few slices of lemon or cucumber to the bottles for a hint of flavour), as well as a selection of soft drinks or juice if you’re worried about young guests getting too hopped up on soda.
7. A plan to keep pests away
Pests like ants, flies and mozzies are a pain in the behind when they rock up to a picnic uninvited. Covering your culinary spread with mesh food covers, putting on insect repellent and sprinkling talcum powder, a natural ant repellent, around your picnic blanket are just a few ways you can get rid of these pesky party crashers. Many bugs also don’t like the smell of citrus fruits like lemon or oranges, vanilla or mint, so consider including some of these ingredients in your dishes or spritz your picnic blanket with essential oils made from these these natural bug repellents.
Pests like ants, flies and mozzies are a pain in the behind when they rock up to a picnic uninvited. Covering your culinary spread with mesh food covers, putting on insect repellent and sprinkling talcum powder, a natural ant repellent, around your picnic blanket are just a few ways you can get rid of these pesky party crashers. Many bugs also don’t like the smell of citrus fruits like lemon or oranges, vanilla or mint, so consider including some of these ingredients in your dishes or spritz your picnic blanket with essential oils made from these these natural bug repellents.
8. Fun activities to keep everyone entertained
Whether your gathering is made up of lots of youngsters or big kids only, plan a few fun activities to get everyone up and running around and help keep boredom at bay. Kick things off with a game of soccer, touch footy or cricket or go for the classics – tag, stuck-in-the-mud and red rover, or even have wheelbarrow or sack races.
Whether your gathering is made up of lots of youngsters or big kids only, plan a few fun activities to get everyone up and running around and help keep boredom at bay. Kick things off with a game of soccer, touch footy or cricket or go for the classics – tag, stuck-in-the-mud and red rover, or even have wheelbarrow or sack races.
For those who don’t wish to partake in physical play, bring a selection of board games, as well as a deck of cards and a few books and magazines to your picnic so they can entertain themselves while the others horse around on the grass.
9. An esky to keep your drinks and food chilled
If you’re planning on serving up salads, cold meats, seafood, cheese and other dairy products, dishes containing eggs or any other perishable items, it’s important to transport these foods in an esky or cooler bag – keep these items refrigerated or in your freezer until you’re ready to leave for your picnic. Fill your esky or cooler bag with ice or freezer bricks to keep things cold and at a safe food storage temperature of 5 degrees Celsius or below (at least until you arrive at your picnic destination and are ready to eat. Placing frozen bottles of water and other drinks around the food will also help ensure it remains properly chilled.
If you’re cooking raw meat, poultry and seafood at your picnic destination, remember to store these food items in sealed containers and away from pre-cooked and -prepared dishes. A smart place to put them is at the bottom of your esky or cooler bag, as this will ensure that any juices that drip from the containers won’t contaminate your other food.
If you’re planning on serving up salads, cold meats, seafood, cheese and other dairy products, dishes containing eggs or any other perishable items, it’s important to transport these foods in an esky or cooler bag – keep these items refrigerated or in your freezer until you’re ready to leave for your picnic. Fill your esky or cooler bag with ice or freezer bricks to keep things cold and at a safe food storage temperature of 5 degrees Celsius or below (at least until you arrive at your picnic destination and are ready to eat. Placing frozen bottles of water and other drinks around the food will also help ensure it remains properly chilled.
If you’re cooking raw meat, poultry and seafood at your picnic destination, remember to store these food items in sealed containers and away from pre-cooked and -prepared dishes. A smart place to put them is at the bottom of your esky or cooler bag, as this will ensure that any juices that drip from the containers won’t contaminate your other food.
10. A wet weather back-up plan
Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so it pays to have a back-up plan just in case the weather goes south on the day of your picnic. After all, you would’ve spent a lot of time planning the event, preparing food and doing other picnic-related tasks, so it would be a shame for all of your effort to go to waste.
An easy fix to this problem is to move your picnic to an undercover area if there’s one at your original location or a spot located close by. Alternatively, if your group is small enough in size, you might like to take the party inside and have an indoor picnic in the comfort of your home instead.
Mother Nature can be unpredictable, so it pays to have a back-up plan just in case the weather goes south on the day of your picnic. After all, you would’ve spent a lot of time planning the event, preparing food and doing other picnic-related tasks, so it would be a shame for all of your effort to go to waste.
An easy fix to this problem is to move your picnic to an undercover area if there’s one at your original location or a spot located close by. Alternatively, if your group is small enough in size, you might like to take the party inside and have an indoor picnic in the comfort of your home instead.
TELL US
What’s your secret to planning the perfect picnic? Share your tips in the Comments.
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What’s your secret to planning the perfect picnic? Share your tips in the Comments.
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Find the perfect spot to hold your picnic and the hard work is almost done. When selecting a site, choose a location that’s grassy, relaxing and picturesque, like a leafy local park, a spot by the beach, a nature reserve, a beautiful botanical garden nestled in the middle of your city or even your backyard.