A Comprehensive Guide To Hosting A Great Picnic

With the weather getting warmer, we're all looking for every possible reason to be outside, enjoying the bright colors, wearing flowy dresses, sipping on refreshing drinks, and hanging with our faves.

How better than to bring all the elements to love about warm weather than in a season-appropriate picnic. Crack out the sun protection and the music for ambiance and prepare for a good picnic.

The great thing about a picnic is that you can make it as casual or as fancy an affair as you'd like. But a little bit of planning can make your outdoor eating experience stand out as a memorable get-together.

Packing

Chances are if you're hosting a picnic, you've done some of your preparation at home in the kitchen. One thing to keep in mind is how to most efficiently pack your food to keep it fresh and appealing throughout the trip.

With that, make sure that fruit and other cool/cold foods are packed in a bag that can retain the cold. The same goes for warm foods if you'll be serving any. Also, think of the best way for people to enjoy food in the least messy, most convenient way. For instance, if you pack your deviled eggs in individual cups like cupcakes, you'll be able to keep them turning into a salad.

Safety Precautions

If your picnic includes children, think about packing plastic or disposable cups to avoid mishaps. Even if not for kids per se, accidents can happen, so think about packing a simple first aid kit.

Keep foods like fish, pies, and dairy on ice for as long as possible. While it might be tempting to display your food on an Instagram-worthy display, it's not worth risking the upset tummy that may follow. Also, don't partially cook foods at home because bacteria can grow quickly on partially cooked foods.

Consider How You'll Eat The Food

While there aren't exactly wrong and right foods for a picnic, it's worth thinking you'll eat the food. This means you might want to avoid certain foods like ice cream and popsicles if you have no way to keep them optimum.

Finger foods are a good idea for picnics, and you can easily pack a charcuterie board. They not only look amazing in a picnic setting, but they're easy to eat from.

Appetizers

Again, a picnic doesn't have to be a formal affair. In fact, the idea that one person may be munching on cupcakes while another digs into the chicken wings is part of the fun.

However, keep in mind some light snacks that guests can nibble on throughout the picnic, particularly before eating the "main dish."

Picnic Centrepiece

You want to have a picnic showstopper. This is the one thing that everyone will probably ask seconds of and talking about as the highlight.

For this main event meal, you might want to pull out the stops with a yummy pie, or you might opt for a homey southern fried chicken.

Activities

Think about things to do during the day. While eating and drinking can be tons of fun, a good ice breaker to get people feeling free can help set the mood for a fun picnic.

For activities, you can play a game like charades or crack out the board games. Alternatively, if you're having an especially casual picnic, get people on their feet with a frisbee or something playful.