Picnics can be wonderful affairs. But if poorly planned your outdoor foodie expedition can be a disaster. Lukewarm juice, sandy sandwiches and ant-infested fruit salad are enough to put off even the hardiest of picnickers. With a little planning, however, you can enjoy a stylish, laidback lunch in a beautiful setting.
Follow our how-to guide to ensure you picnic like a pro, with ease and in style and comfort.
What to pack
- A picnic basket with all the trimmings. You’ll need plates, cups and cutlery, but spruce up the occasion with cloth napkins and wine glasses (even if they are plastic). Make sure you have a chopping board and a sharp knife, and add a few toothpicks as well.
- A bottle opener is a good idea, even if you’re not having wine, as you may want to open other capped drinks.
- A good picnic needs a good picnic blanket. Make yourself more comfortable with some chairs or cushions and a gazebo or umbrella, depending on your location.
- Take along a spare packet, for any rubbish.
What to eat and drink
- Keep your drinks cool by taking along extra ice and try something refreshing like minted water, or fresh lemonade.
- Snacks and finger foods are a good option, like cheese and biscuits, dips, cold meats, pâtés, fruit, cherry tomatoes, biltong, cold chicken, or pita bread and hummus.
- You can also make some foods ahead of time, and pack them with a picnic in mind. To make salad in a jar, layer your salad ingredients in a glass bottle, putting your salad dressing in first and the lettuce in last. You can also make pressed sandwiches. Get a round loaf of bread, cut off the top and pull out the bread inside. Then layer your sandwich ingredients. You can use ham, rocket, salami, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, feta, peppers or anything else you like. Push the layers down as you put them in. When your bread is full, put the top back on the bread, and place something flat and heavy, like a few plates, on top. Leave in the fridge for a few hours. When you’re ready to eat, slice the bread like a cake, mix up your salad and enjoy.
What to do
- Read a book. If you have the time, enjoy a peaceful moment of reading outdoors.
- Play a game. If your little ones refuse to let you read, make sure you have some activities and games. Take a cricket bat and ball, a soccer or volleyball, lawn bowls and a Frisbee.
- If you’re going to the beach be sure to pack the bucket and spade. A nearby river? Take along a fishing rod.
- Take a stroll. Enjoy a leisurely walk around your picnic spot. There are sure to be paths and trails nearby, and your children can enjoy exploring nature.
Find some fun games for kids (adults can join too) when on a picnic.
What to consider
- Season and weather: plan ahead for any inclement weather, such as summer rainstorms. But also pack for the weather you expect. Sunscreen is essential for summer, and picnicking in winter is a definite possibility, just pack plenty of coats, blankets and soup.
- Facilities: some spots offer braai areas, ablutions and activities for hire. Others don’t. So know what to expect, and whether you need to pack a toilet roll.
- Where you’re going: picnicking on the beach is very different to setting up in your local meadow. So think about what you’ll need for your location. Take a beach tent or umbrella for a beach picnic, while hiking shoes are a good addition for a nature reserve picnic, and mozzie spray may be required for the dam.
- Wildlife: some spots do offer wildlife sightings, but these may not always be welcome. If monkeys frequent the area, keep food packed away, and if you’re walking in long grass, watch out for ticks and snakes.
