How to Plan the Perfect Picnic Menu

Summer is here! You know what that means—time to pack up your lunch and head to the park or beach for a family picnic. We’ve got everything you need to ensure a smooth, safe, and memorable experience.

Tips for Planning a Picnic Menu

If you’re picnicking in the backyard, you shouldn’t have to worry about your food going bad before you eat it. However, if your destination is a drive away and you plan to enjoy some family fun before eating, you’ll need to select your picnic menu carefully.

First, consider skipping mayo-heavy salads, which spoil relatively quickly in the sun. Instead, opt for vinegar-based bean, grain, or pasta salads. Then, never keep perishables out of the cooler for longer than two hours.

Choose thick, hardy bread for sandwiches, and assemble them strategically. Place meat and cheese against the bread and tomato and lettuce in the center to help prevent these wet ingredients from turning your bread soggy.

Picnic Packing Tips

Skip the traditional picnic basket, and pack your food in a hard-sided cooler. Rather than having ice take up too much space, fill water bottles two-thirds full and freeze them the day before. When packing for your picnic, top off the bottles with water and place them at the bottom of your cooler. They’ll help keep your food cold and provide ice-cold drinks to go with your meal. Pack everything else in sturdy leftover containers to avoid spilling or crushing.

Along with food, plan to pack these handy items for your picnic:

• Large outdoor blanket or two
• Cutlery (reusable or disposable, based on your preference)
• Roll of paper towels or cloth napkins (paper napkins blow away too easily)
• Small knife and cutting board
• Hand sanitizer to use before eating
• Wet wipes to wash up after eating
• Trash bags
• Sunscreen and bug spray

Picnic Menu Ideas

Try these recipes for a tasty spin on classic picnic foods:

• Chickpea Salad Sandwiches with a vegan-friendly filling featuring crunchy veggies, delicious herbs, and blended chickpeas
• Tangy Veggie Wrap made with a creamy, homemade dressing
• Spring Pasta with Salmon, Peas, and Dill featuring a butter-white wine sauce
• Pasta and Bean Picnic Salad dressed up with grape tomatoes, celery, red onion, and parsley
• Avocado Fruit Salad with Tangerine Vinaigrette for a refreshingly different take on classic fruit salad
• Picnic Dip Jars in three tasty varieties prepared in convenient, single-serve jars
• Raspberry Crumb Bars for a delicious treat at the end of your meal
• Giant Lemon Sugar Cookies with a crunchy, sugary topping and tasty, chewy center

Find all your picnic foods at NetCost Market, a local grocery store with a global reach. We offer high-quality service and a diverse selection of unique products so our customers can get all their food in one place. Visit us today at one of our locations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, or try online grocery shopping and home grocery delivery.