10 Best Foods To Take With You On A Picnic

The fast approaching uplifting sunshine, warm breeze, bright blue skies and nature in bloom, can only mean one thing; summer is approaching. And with the summer, comes picnic season. There is nothing better than sitting, barefoot on fresh green grass and enjoying the sound of birds chirping and children playing, while tucking into delicious home-made delights. But if you are confused about what foods to include on your picnic menu, here are the 10 best foods to take with you on a picnic!

1) Pies

Savoury pies are a fantastic, tantalising picnic treat that just about everyone loves! Tuck into to a vegetarian or a meaty pie for a filling dish that can be eaten warm or cold, and on the go, while you’re exploring the beautiful setting you’ve chosen for your picnic. If there are any leftover pies at the end of your picnic (unlikely!), they can be stored in the freezer for future use. Yum!

2) Pasta

Cold pasta is a fail-safe picnic staple that can be eaten as an appetiser, the main course or a side dish! Pasta is extremely versatile and comes in countless flavours and preparations, so there is something for everyone. If you’re feeling a little lazy, pasta is also widely available ready-made in supermarkets, so you can pick some up on the way to your picnic if you need to!

3) Salami

Who doesn’t love a slice of salami? The subtly salty, meaty flavour is the perfect anecdote to a day of walking and exploring. Salami can be so easily prepared and eaten in many ways, from frying it in breadcrumbs to eating it with invigorating olives and rich cheese to get the most out of the flavour; the options are endless. Try out different methods to see what suits you best!

4) Sandwiches

Ah, a good old British favourite – the humble sandwich. This unassuming, yet filling food is perfect for a picnic as it is eaten cold, and can be made in hundreds of different ways, using absolutely any choice of bread and ingredients that take your fancy, so you can really get creative with it!  Sandwiches are also notoriously quick and easy to make, so perfect if you’re in a hurry (school runs, anyone?). The best part of incorporating sandwiches in your picnic basket, you ask? They don’t require cutlery to eat so they really are a simple and efficient choice for your picnic!

5) Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and Seeds are an almost obligatory picnic food; they tick all the boxes: Mess-free, finger food, zero preparation, can be enjoyed by adults and children alike, can be eaten on the go as a snack, healthy in the right quantity. And the list could go on and on. The point is, don’t forget to pack the nuts!

6) Salads

Salads are a fantastic, healthy addition to your picnic menu. They don’t require much preparation – a salad dressing at most, and they are a wonderful way of getting in your five a day while you’re having fun and enjoying the atmosphere of your picnic.

7) Potato Salad

This is a wonderful, simple yet tasty addition to your picnic basket; it is easy to make, easy to store in an airtight container, and fuss-free to eat while out, so it’s great for everyone, particularly if you have children joining you on your picnic. Easy peasy!

8) Cheese and Fruit Skewers

As a child, I used to adore cheese and fruit mini skewers, and as an adult, I still do! This is probably because of the mouth-watering flavour mixture of the sweet, refreshing fruit and the tangy, warming cheese that never fails to tickle the taste buds in all the right ways! All you need for this dish is fruit, cheese and toothpicks; these skewers are an easy, compact finger food so no mess and no fuss!

9) Cake

If you fancy a touch of dessert following your scrumptious savoury picnic meal, a fluffy, homemade cake is the perfect option. Cake is highly enjoyable to eat outdoors, surrounded by nature and summer fun. Because it is dry and can be eaten with your hands, cake is a clean, non-sticky and mess-free picnic dessert option.

10) Trifle

If you fancy something a little more ornate, opt for trifle. Its fruity, refreshing amazing-ness is perfect for a hot summer day, when you’d like to eat something cooling to finish your meal. Store your trifle in individual, bite-sized pots so everyone can tuck in without any mess or kerfuffle, and you can simply pop the containers into the recycling bin once you’ve finished using them. Simple!

So, there you have the 10 foods to take with you on a picnic. What are your favourite picnic food options? Tell us now in the comments!

Featured Image Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/hIdPvJCdvag