Picnic Planning

• Pack perishable food from the fridge at the last minute into the chill boxes and bags.
• Often picnic food can get squashed if kept in one huge cool box, try taking several cool bags, and separate foods which need to be kept cold from crisps and bread etc, which don’t.
• One bag can contain snack type foods and one can have the lunch itself. The cool bag  won’t be constantly opened.

Keep these kitchen items all together in your car or near the back door for a quick getaway;

Use this list as your morning checklist when the rain looks like its staying away for the day;

When it comes to picnic food it doesn't pay to be too ambitious, the biggest mistake most people make is assuming that dishes which work at home will be just as good al fresco.

• for family picnics just take finger food, then you don't need to worry about whether you have made enough and you also don't need cutlery.
• think through the right amount of foods for the number of adults and children, so you don't have to waste any left over, and too warm to bring home.
• cold boiled potatoes make a fantastic potato salad so make use of last night's veggies for today's adventure.
• roasted chicken or other leftover meats taste great with pickles or salad
• to make planning less of a chore, you could make use of ready-made products available from supermarkets and delis such as deli goodies, cooked meats, dips and dressings and breads.
• try your favourite fillings in pitta bread or focaccia.
• pies, chicken portions, slices of vegetables or meat flans and tarts and sliceable cakes are always good bets.
• for summer drinks try blitzing over ripe fruit and making smoothies in a blender. Chill well before your picnic, and store in a vacuum flask or in a container inside a cool bag or box.
• take more water than you think you will need, children get particularly grumpy if they are dehydrated.