Picnics are a wonderful way to relax and enjoy the outdoors by yourself or with family and friends. Make the most of a beautiful summer day and treat yourself to a dazzling picnic spread full of your favourite goodies! Grab a comfortable picnic blanket, some sunscreen and bug spray, and a picnic basket or cooler filled with delicious treats. Set up in your favourite park, beach, or even your own backyard! For a wow-worthy picnic, these are the items we’re including in our basket:
Picnic Necessities
No matter what tasty goodies you’re packing for your picnic, there are some essentials every picnic needs to ensure you have a good time. These include:
Picnic Blanket: You don’t need a designated picnic blanket, but something soft, durable, and comfortable that can be laid on the grass or sand. It should be large enough to hold all your guests plus your food.
Napkins: Clean up sticky hands and spills with napkins. Whether you go the reusable cloth route or disposable paper napkins, they’re a helpful picnic addition.
Plates and Utensils: Some picnic foods can be eaten by hand, but others require at least a fork. Choose reusable utensils and plates, or at least eco-friendly options to reduce waste.
Sunscreen and Insect Repellant: The sun’s rays are powerful, and even if the day looks cloudy, it’s better to put some on—you don’t want to go home with a nasty sunburn! Insect repellant is also a necessity, since eating outside can bring the bugs. You’ll have a much better time at your picnic if you’re not busy swatting mosquitos.
Picnic Basket: Load up everything you need into a picnic basket. This can be a cute wicker basket or a large, insulated tote or cooler. Whatever it is, make sure it’s large enough to hold all your food and keep it at the right temperature.
Garbage Bags: Leave your area as you found it. Take any trash with you in a garbage bag and throw it out when you’re done!
Picnic Food Ideas
Eating al fresco makes everything taste better, but when you’re packing food for a picnic, you want items that’ll taste just as good in an hour or two. Shareable items and finger foods are perfect for a picnic. Instead of packing sandwiches (although you’re welcome to!), some of our favourite picnic food ideas are below.
Picnic Charcuterie
We love charcuterie for a picnic, because there’s not much prep involved, it’s easy to share, requires almost no utensils, and is endlessly customizable! The best charcuterie boards involve a mix of meats, cheeses, and fruits. Some of our picnic charcuterie must-haves are:
- Grapes
- Figs
Pro Tip: Prep the bulk of your charcuterie board in advance. Carefully wrap and pack it in a cooler or insulted bag with some ice packs so you can spend more time relaxing during your picnic and less time setting up. Did you know that we cater charcuterie boards to groups and gatherings?
Add a Salad or Two
A salad full of fresh fruits or veggies can be so refreshing! Summer is full of beautiful, crisp produce and our stores are stocked full of it! For your picnic, bring a couple salads to tempt taste buds and enjoy the fresh flavours of the season. Try one of the salad recipes below or pick up one of our conveniently prepared options.
- Recipe: Grilled Summer Zucchini Salad
- Farm Boy™ Fresh Salads: Made by our Chefs with high-quality ingredients, choose from classic veggie salads, pasta salads, chopped salads, keto salads, and more!
- Farm Boy™ Salad Dressings and Vinaigrettes: Made from simple ingredients, select any of our salad dressings or vinaigrettes to jazz up your chef-prepped salad.
Pro Tip: Pack recyclable, compostable, or reusable plates and cutlery—including a few spoons or tongs for serving things like salads and scooping dips. Learn more about our Chef-Prepared Fresh Salads!
You Can Never Have Too Much Dip
Grab some dips to enjoy with chips or fresh-cut veggies for a picnic dish that’s as easy to serve as it is to enjoy. Some of our faves include:
- Carrots
- Celery
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
Pro Tip: Handheld snacking definitely calls for napkins! Remember to pack napkins and moist towelettes for any messy fingers, as well as a separate bag to collect your garbage.
Squeeze In Something Sweet
A picnic isn’t complete without some kind of treat. Choose desserts that are easy to serve, without unnecessary additional cutlery. If you’d prefer a lighter option, opt for some fresh fruit, like berries and cut melon.
Pro Tip: There’s a chance your delicious food may attract some bugs. Keep your food covered as best you can when you’re not eating and pack some bug spray so that pests like mosquitoes don’t bother you.
Don’t Forget to Keep Hydrated
Pack some single-serve beverages to quench your thirst and wash down all your mouthwatering picnic food. Keep them chilled in a cooler or insulated bag by using ice packs. Some of our must-have picnic drinks include:
Pro Tip: Keeping hydrated outside on a hot day is important and so is protecting yourself from the sun! Even on a cloudy day, remember to pack a hat and apply sunscreen regularly. If you’re able, sitting in shade also helps beat the heat!
Bring a Little Entertainment
Have some more picnic fun by bringing along a few extras to ensure you and your guests have a good time. Whether you’re looking for more of a chill vibe or are planning an active afternoon, some of our recommendations are below.
- Portable speaker: Curate a playlist with some light music to set the vibe.
- A book: Dining solo? A new book (or an old favourite) is a great choice.
- A deck of cards: Small and light, slip a deck into your bag before you go.
- Picnic games: Classics like Cornhole are light enough to travel with.
Happy picnicking!
