A picnic is one of the most enjoyable activities for adults and children alike and can be a great outing for families and friends.  The setting can be the beach, the local park, a public garden or even your backyard or front lawn.  With a little planning and some great food, a picnic can be super easy to organize.

Picnic Food Ideas

Picnics are all about sharing, so ask everyone to bring along a couple of plates of food to share and enjoy amongst the group. Choose picnic food that can be eaten cold and that will travel well. Here are some ideas:

Nibbles

A few yummy nibbles to enjoy before the main event as people arrive such as:

• A platter of cheeses & crackers, nuts, olives cold cuts and pate
• A homemade dip such as this easy Smoked Mackerel Dip

The Main Event

All of the following picnic food ideas can be cooked in advance and are delicious served cold.

• Mini frittatas i.e. these Bacon & Onion Frittatas
• Baked Chicken fingers
• Healthy Homemade Beef Patties
• A platter of cooked marinated meats
• Beef Koftas with a Mint Yoghurt
• Salads to share e.g. Rice Salad, Rocket Pinenut & Parmesan Salad, Mango Honey Soy Chicken Salad, Lemon & Herb Risoni Salad, Mushroom Tomato & Onion Salad or Spinach Strawberry & Feta Salad.

Something Sweet

It’s lovely to enjoy something sweet afterwards.

• Something with chocolate e.g. Rocky Road or Chocolate & Cocnut Balls
• Muffins or cake such as Raspberry & White Chocolate Muffins or Apple & Date Cake
• Sweet biscuits such as Vanilla Cookies or Ginger Cookies.

Picnic Essentials

What you will need for your picnic will depend on the location however some basics include;

• A picnic blanket, mat or rug to sit on (preferably one with a waterproof underside)
• A decent sized picnic basket that contains a set of plates, cutlery, napkins and plastic glasses
• Condiments i.e. Salt & Pepper, Sauces, Dressings (depends on what picnic food you bring along)
• Lightweight, foldable picnic chairs (optional)
• A good quality thermos if you would like to enjoy a tea or coffee at your picnic
• Food storage containers to transport the food
• A portable esky to transfer your food and keep it cold
• A selection of drinks for the group

Picnic Ideas & Tips

• Share the load. Ask everyone to bring a couple of plates of picnic food.
• Bring food that travels well (i.e. in the car and in the esky).
• If you bring a salad, take the dressing in a jar and dress the salad just before serving to stop it going soggy.
• Bring insect spray to ward off any mosquitoes and other insects.
• Bring ample drinking water.
• Bring a few activities for the group such as a frisbee, ball or cricket set.
• Bring a rubbish bag in case there is no access to a public rubbish bin.
• Check the weather before you go!

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