How to pack a perfect picnic – menus, equipment and more!

All you need for a perfect picnic! A handy checklist so you don’t forget any gear, plus easy menu suggestions with ideas to suit everyone.

The school holidays are here! That means day trips to the beach, the park, the countryside, National Trust properties… And lots and lots of PICNICS!

One particular highlight of our summers is a series of outdoor concerts in the Cambridge University Botanic Gardens. The music is always great and we can spread out on our rug and enjoy a leisurely picnic while we listen. There’s usually quite a crowd, so there’s a great atmosphere too.

Over the years, we’ve pretty much perfected our picnic game. From the essential equipment for seating, eating and clean-up, to the menu selection (of course!), we’ve got it figured out. Here, I’ll share our top tips and suggestions, so you can also enjoy a delicious, comfortable, and EASY picnic experience.

Essential equipment for picnics

Picnic blanket or rug

It wouldn’t be a proper picnic without a picnic rug, right?

We have one that has a waterproof back, so it keeps your picnic food (and bottom!) dry, but is nice and soft on top. It also folds up and has an integral fastener to keep it tidy and compact for and a handle for easy transport.

Picnic blankets/rugs come in a range of sizes, so make sure you choose one that’s big enough to accommodate all your diners, and the food as well! Alternatively choose a number of smaller ones, then you can take as many as you need and lay them next to one another on the ground.

Seating

There are lots of options for seating. Of course the most basic is simply to sit on your rug (above) but if you value a bit more lumbar support, you might want to take a chair of some kind.

We have some soft folding seats, which pack flat, are lightweight, and have a handy shoulder strap. They don’t raise you off the ground, so at an outdoor concert you won’t get evil looks from people for blocking their view. They provide just enough back support to make sitting on the ground comfortable for an hour or two. Perfect.

You might also like some light and simple deck chairs, or a stool with a handy built-in cool bag – great if you’re heading to the beach or the park for an extended stretch and want to keep drinks and snacks cold.

Picnic baskets and cool bags

You’ll need something to put your food in, and the traditional option is a wicker picnic basket! However, these are typically not insulated, and can be quite cumbersome to carry.

I prefer an insulated backpack, which keeps your picnic cool and fresh until you’re ready to eat. It’s easy to carry on your back, leaving your hands free for the picnic rug, chairs, swimming stuff, toys, and miscellaneous other!

Our picnic backpack has a nice wide opening, so it’s easy to see what’s inside, and to get food in and out. Some have different sections, so you can keep drinks and food separate for instance.

Insulated backpacks come in a variety of different sizes, so you can choose the one that best fits your family’s needs. Just pop in a few freezer blocks and you’re all set.

Cutlery and crockery – picnic sets

Our picnic backpack also includes a set of crockery and cutlery, which is organised in a separate pocket on the front of the bag. We like the plates especially because we can take them home to wash and reuse, so more eco-friendly, but we also find them easier to eat from than paper plates.

However there are times when disposable is the order of the day, for instance if there’s a lot of carrying to be done after you’ve eaten. Paper goods come in a range of ‘grades’ so make sure you choose something sturdy! Eco-disposable ranges also include wooden cutlery which will compost/biodegrade along with any food waste.

Picnic equipment check list

In summary, you will need:

• Picnic rug – the best ones roll/fold up and have a built in carry handle
• Seats – optional but make for a much more comfortable experience!
• Cool bag, picnic backpack/bag, or basket to carry your food
• Ice blocks/freezer blocks – to keep everything cool and fresh until you’re ready to eat
• Plates – possibly also bowls if you have space
• Knives, forks and spoons – remember to take some for serving as well as for eating with
• A corkscrew/bottle opener
• A tin opener – optional, but sometimes useful for things like canned tuna
• A small chopping board and a sharp knife – essential for cutting veggies, cheese, quiche, and even cake
• Cups or glasses
• A salt and pepper set – optional but nice!
• Napkins or kitchen roll – or both!
• Baby wipes – useful for hands, faces, and even wiping down plates between courses or before you pack them back into the bag to go home
• A bag for rubbish

You can download a handy printable version of this checklist by using the button below.

The best picnic food

Now you’ve got your kit sorted, it’s time to think about the picnic food! Below I’ve curated some picnic menus that can easily be put together and hopefully offer something for everyone. Feel free to pick and mix to suit yourself and your family!

Mediterranean menu – vegetarian

• Quick focaccia – cut fingers for dipping or slice horizontally to make sandwiches
• Feta cheese dip
• Caponata alla Guidia – sweet and sour aubergines
• Mini mozzarella balls with pesto dressing
• Summer tomato salad
• Crudites – peppers, cucumbers, carrot sticks
• Lemon and almond cake (gluten free)
• Grapes, figs and oranges

Jewish deli-style picnic

• Bagels or challah rolls
• Egg and onion
• Cream cheese and smoked salmon
• Smoked mackerel pate
• Chopped and fried gefilte fish balls
• Sliced vegetables – cucumbers, carrots, peppers, red onions etc.
• Pickled cucumbers, and maybe some olives and capers
• Gooey chocolate babka (vegan)

Vegan al fresco feast

• Vegan savoury muffins with smoked tofu and caramelised onions
• Home-baked pita or vegan soda bread
• Humous with carrot sticks, celery, pepper strips etc.
• Crunchy red cabbage slaw
• Chopped Israeli vegetable salad
• Olives and pickles
• Moist vegan carrot cake
• Fresh fruit – apples, pears, grapes etc.

Super sandwiches

You may prefer to take ready-made sandwiches rather than the more buffet style picnic food above. If so, here are some delicious options that you can whip up at home, then pack in your basket for later.

• Vegan chicken salad sandwich made with jackfruit shredded ‘chicken’ – from zardyplants.com
• Smoked tofu ciabatta sandwich with avocado, tomato and tahini – from gatheringdreams.com
• Coronation chickpea sandwich – from veggiedesserts.com
• Grilled veggie humous wrap – from MelissaTraub.com
• Carrot and cheese sandwich filling – from TinandThyme.com
• Vegan Banh Mi with marinaded tempeh and quick pickles – from myquietkitchen.com
• Simple Caprese sandwich – from ChristinasCucina.com
• Eggplant (aubergine) mufaletta – from ConnoiseurusVeg.com
• Tofu pesto sandwich – from plantbasedonabudget.com
• Mushroom spinach wrap with garlic mayo and jalapeños – from getsetvegan.com
• Halloumi bagels with harissa and quick tomato salsa – from amummytoo.com
• Vegan tuna salad sandwich – from veganhuggs.com

Day trips and school holidays

Whatever you’re doing and wherever you’re going – whether it’s the park, the beach, or somewhere even more exciting – I hope this will help your picnic to be a real highlight, and not just a quick refuelling stop.

Have a great summer! And happy picnic season!

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