Once the clocks have gone forward and we start to get sunnier skies and warmer weather many of us turn our thoughts to walks in the park or on the beach.  Why not put together a picnic and make a day of it?

• Food Safety
• Location
• Sensible Picnic Packing
• Suggestions and ideas
• Liquid Refreshments

Selecting foods to take along on a picnic can be a challenge, as there are several considerations to take into account including food safety, picnic location, and ease of cleanup. Fortunately, cultures all over the world seem to enjoy taking food outdoors during beautiful weather, so most culinary traditions include food which can be easily packed on a picnic.

Food Safety

This is probably the most important consideration when selecting foods to take on a picnic. Most of the time, a picnic is planned for lunchtime after playing on the beach, swimming in the sea or simply going for a long walk. This means that foods may be sitting at warm temperatures breeding bacteria for some time.

When planning for a picnic, think about how long the food will be out, and try to avoid foods that may pose bacterial risks, such as meats, mayonnaise and cream cheese like Philedelphia. If you want to take these types of foods along, plan on packing them in ice so that they will stay cool and safe to eat. It's better to enjoy your picnic without anyone getting sick!

Cleanup should also be taken into consideration; to facilitate cleanup, you may want to think about taking baby or hygenic wipes so that picnickers can wipe their hands easily after eating.

Where to Have It

As Mr Hilton said about his hotel chain “…it’s all about location, location, location”. A picnic on the beach, for example, can be lovely, but sometimes the wind can pick up blowing sand all over your lovingly prepared food. When packing foods for a beach picnic, think about foods that can be easily packaged and eaten with minimal exposure, such as sandwiches, rather than foods which involve a lot of handling like salads, bread and cheese.

Also, if you are planning a picnic in a windy destination, you should think about how foods are packaged, you don’t want to spend the whole picnic chasing wrappers or lettuce leaves around the mountain top.

It ain’t heavy… it’s my picnic

If you are taking a long hike before the picnic, consider the weight of the foods being brought along. Either make sure it is packaged into an easily manageable rucksack (or divide it up between everyone who is attending if there is too much weight for one person). Alternatively plan to return to eat your lunch near the car so you can leave it all in the boot.

What to Take

Some classic picnic foods include sandwiches, crisps, fruit, and salads. You can chop fruit such as melons and oranges before the picnic to make it easier to deal with at the site, or you can pack apples, pears and other single serving, ready to eat fruits.

Sandwich fillings can vary widely, but remember to think about food safety when assembling them, and try to keep them cold along with salads. You can also pack things like dried fruit, bread, various spreads, cheese, and pickled foods such as olives and gherkins. Many supermarkets are now selling finger foods which are great for a picnic such as sausages rolls, individual quiches, mini empanadas or, if you fancy something a little more spicy: samosas, bhajis and Chinese dumplings to mention just a few.

Naturally, no picnic would be complete without desserts like scones, cupcakes, biscuits or chocolate bars.  Try to keep desserts cool so that they do not soften or melt.

For salad suggestions please refer to our Sensational Salad section

• Asparagus & Tomato Salad (V)
• Californian Salad Bowl (V)
• Cheesey Waldorf Salad (V)
• Greek Salad (V)
• Green Salad Plus (V)
• Hawaiian Pot-Mac Salad
• No-Mayo Pasta Salad (V)
• Strawberry & Spinach Salad (V)
• Tangy Cucumber and Avocado Salad (V)

Thinking about Drinking

It is also important to consider drinks when you are packing a picnic. Because you will probably be out in the sun, you should be certain to pack plenty of plain water to keep everyone hydrated. In addition to water, you may want to consider drinks like iced tea, lemonade and fruit juices. For adults,  beer and wine can be enjoyable, but be aware of the potential dangers of drinking in the sun and don’t over do it.  You should also make sure that drivers refrain from consuming alcohol.

If you are considering a BBQ picnic please check the local restrictions before planning this activity.  For example, you can be fined quite heavily for having a BBQ in the mountains during the summer months when all the brush has dried out and poses a high fire risk. 

On a final note, don't forget to take your rubbish home with you or to a nearby bin.  Delightful picnic spots only stay that way if they are kept looking nice. Would you want to picnic somewhere that looks like the local landfill site?