Packing a picnic.. I am CLUELESS

[LiLStar]

Especially since its summer, I'm struggling with the whole "pack a picnic lunch and go somewhere" thing. If there's advanced notice, like I'm meeting friends at a park  or the zoo or something and its *not* today I can sorta make it work by going shopping with that in mind.. but its still a struggle to even know what to buy and often times theres a lot of chips, packaged food, deli items.. If I want to be spontaneous, and I LIKE to be spontaneous because some days I'm feeling lazy, and others I'm chomping at the bit to go outside, and I look around the fridge/cupboard for what to bring, I just have no idea.

What do you usually pack?

fruit is a given, so thats easy. kids don't usually like sandwiches and they end up wasted. *i* don't usually like sandwiches but I grudgingly eat them as an alternative to starving. string cheese.. hard boiled eggs.. easy stuff the kids would like. baby carrots/crackers in hummus. I'd bring yogurt if the clean up wasn't such a pain. ds is disgusting :P I'd love to be able to pack a healthy, yummy picnic that I look forward to eating, rather than one thats making me look longingly at the nearest drive thru. 

[cat13]

You mention that your kids don't like sandwiches, but will they eat a "deli tray?" Basically, just cut up some meat, cheese, veggies, hummus, etc (whatever you would put on a sandwich) and eat it with crackers.  Sometimes I find that the same food with a different twist is all it takes.

I also really like cold salads for picnics, which take planning but are easy to pack. Tomato/Basil/Mozzerella, bean & corn salad, cold pasta salad, etc.

[CrazyCatLady]

We always pack simple and random foods when we head out to the beach or park.  Lots of little baggies or containers of things like: lunch meats (alone, we don't like sandwiches either), cheese, popcorn, nuts or trail mix, fruit (cut up or whole like apples), maybe veggies and dips, yummy crackers, granola bars, protein drinks, etc.  Really whatever is in the fridge or pantry and needs to be used up lol.  Even things like peanut butter spread on crackers can come along (it just gets a bit messy).

More substantial foods can also come along rather easy.  Cold pizza, mac and cheese in a thermos, soup in a thermos, etc.

It's not that hard once you get used to doing it.  I can pack up a meal for four of us in just a few minutes now.  Plus it's easier once you let go of the idea of bringing a "prefect" spread.  Just bring enough stuff so that nobody will starve in some various food groups and call it good.  Also remember that picnic food is never really pretty unless you are Martha Stewart or just naturally good at that kind of thing lol.  It will be fine and you can always eat a hearty dinner when you get home.

Oh and I also make sure to always pack plenty of extra wash rags, water, and utensils (I don't use paper or plastic products usually).  Usually a extra bag or container too.  Makes cleaning things up much easier. :)

[SundayCrepes]

We have a small cooler and some cooler packs. I add a jar of almond butter, sometimes a jar of peanut butter, 2 different all fruit jellies, and cream cheese (or dairy free cream cheese.) If we have hummus, I'll pack it. Then I take rice cakes, crackers, a few slices of homemade almond bread (we're gluten free,) and a couple knives and spoons. This way the kids can custom make whatever they want. I might throw in some cheese sticks for my son and a small container of cashews for my dairy-free daughter. Maybe a couple lara bars. Some apples, bananas, and whatever other fruit we have. I don't premake anything so nothing goes in the garbage. It's much faster than the old days when I made sandwiches before we left.

[ollyoxenfree]

If you want to fuss just a little, then try making spring rolls wrapped in rice paper. We fill ours with rice vermicelli, assorted julienned veggies (carrot, cucumber, red pepper) and mint and cilantro leaves. If you can keep them cool, you can also add prawn or crab or shredded chicken or beef. If you don't mind the potential mess factor, a little soy or sweet chili dipping sauce in nice with them. 

The kids love them and they are easy to manage because everything is packed into one neat bundle.

[gardenmommy]

I pack a cooler with sandwiches (which I know you said you don't like, so this doesn't apply to you, lol).  However, you could pack crackers, and eat the filling on crackers instead of between slices of bread (thinking egg/chicken/tuna salad). 

Some other stuff that usually finds its way into our picnic lunches:

Fruits (cherries, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, apples, whatever we have on hand)

Veggies (carrot sticks, cucumber slices, etc.)

Dips (hummus, peanut or almond butter)

Yogurt tubes (I only buy these for picnics, since I can freeze them and they are relatively neat)

Applesauce (either packaged or portioned amounts in my own containers)

Cheese slices or sticks, depending on whatever phase my children are in

Crackers

Lunchmeat (usually turkey)

Sometimes we add trail mix, beef jerky, chips and salsa, or other stuff we have on hand.  

I keep a ziplock bag filled with paper plates, plasticware, and napkins, a roll of paper towel, and a couple of picnic blankets in our van.  That way, it is easy to have a short-notice picnic without a lot of stress or hassle.

Good luck and have fun, mama!