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You can’t beat a family picnic as a fun way to enjoy good food in the great outdoors. But the preparation is important too, especially when your family keep teasing you about the time you didn’t put the ice cream in the cool bag… drippy mint chocolate chip sandwiches anyone? No?
Here are five picnic ideas for kids that’ll guarantee you have a great time!
5 brilliant picnic food ideas for family outings
Tip
Why not host your own ‘bake off’ picnic? Put each member of the family in charge of mastering one of these recipe ideas (providing they’re old enough), and see who wins the all-important taste test. The winner gets to wipe last place’s soggy sponge cake out of its plastic container!
1. All-in-one sandwiches
Who hasn’t pulled a sandwich out at a picnic and witnessed their fillings flop out the bottom and straight into the arms of several happy ants? Well, filled breads are one of the best picnic food ideas to combat this kind of sandwich mishap.
Bake a loaf packed full of your favourite ingredients, and everyone will get a tasty mouthful with every bite – minus the potential of falling fillings. Try a roasted vegetable picnic bread or pesto focaccia wrapped in a strong piece of Plenty kitchen roll for crumb-free picnicking.
Tip
Keep picnic food fresh by wrapping it in a piece of kitchen paper that’s safe on food, like Plenty. It’ll come in handy for soaking up those inevitable spills too!
2. Stacked salads
Vegetable sticks and hummus dips are typically a big hit with kids, and a healthy one too. They might seem like the sort of snack that has to be eaten at a table, but they can travel quite easily with one small switch-up: a jar. Screw the lid on tight to 1. Reduce spills and 2. Make yourself feel like a super-parent when you’re asked to open it.
Homemade food jars are one of the most fun picnic ideas for kids, as they can get involved with the layering. Start off with hummus at the bottom, and then add in colourful layers of red peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. Cut them into bite-size pieces first.
Tip
We all want to leave our favourite picnic spots just as beautiful as we found them. To make sure no wrappers escape and make a break for the trees, get the whole family involved in the clean-up. It’s a great way to teach kids about sharing responsibility and taking care of nature, too.
3. Savoury muffins
Anything tastes better when it’s presented in a muffin case. Use that to your advantage when making picnic food for kids by mixing up a batch of savoury muffins.
They’re simple enough for the kids to make with you, too. Try crowd-pleasers like egg, pumpkin, or sweet potato muffins.
4. Granola bars
To be honest, a picnic is probably the best place to eat a crumbly cereal bar – though the crumbs will still probably be transported back to the house via tiny trouser pockets! Try creating your own versions; they’ll be even tastier and healthier, with the added bonus of being great fun to make. Encourage the kids to get their hands sticky when mixing oats, seeds, and chopped nuts, and squidge them together in fistful-sized shapes with honey, dates and dried fruits.
This is one of those picnic ideas for kids that they’ll be begging you to recreate for their school lunchboxes too.
5. Pudding jars
Desserts can be one of the trickiest parts of a meal to convert to a picnic rug. Traditional picnic ideas for puddings might not work well for your family, as they’re often laden with fat and sugar. If you’re looking for family picnic ideas for sweet yet healthy treats, jars come into their own again.
Create your version of a berry cheesecake with a biscuit or granola base topped with fresh raspberries and strawberries. Finish with a generous dollop of yogurt on top, and then dig in with a spoon. Don’t forget to bring an ice box to keep the jars cool while you enjoy playing with the kids.
Tip
Picnics can be a sticky business! Don’t forget to bring a roll of Plenty Flexisheets. With these easy-to-grab single sheets of kitchen paper, you can wipe up hands and faces quickly and get back to having fun.
That’s it! Five amazing picnic ideas for your next summer outing. And don’t worry if thank you kisses come from faces that’re sporting yoghurt-y lips or cheeks covered in granola – that’s just a sign your picnic went really well.
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