Planning a Picnic in Your Backyard

Picnics are popular during the summer months, but not all of us can venture out and enjoy Mother Nature in her natural surroundings. No worries, though, you can take advantage of a lazy, hazy sunny afternoon by setting up a rustic picnic in your own backyard.

To create the perfect picnic vibe, bring out some outdoor essentials like some cozy pillows, a blanket, frisbee, or a good book. Dress up your patio set, picnic table, or makeshift a surface with a cool tablecloth, paper dishes, and plastic utensils. Or lay down your blanket and spread out your picnic.

Backyard picnics are a fun way to change the vibe of a meal and the ideal way to do something unique for dinner. Entice their taste buds with picnic must-haves like sandwiches, salads, pickles, snack foods, fruits, and refreshing drinks with striped straws. Or for a more romantic ambience, serve cheese on a crispy roll with a cool glass of wine. Pull out the barbecue, throw on some corn and other favorite foods, and let the flavor permeate. For those who want to simplify the process, consider creating some dishes that will minimize your workload with food that’s are easy to carry, consume, and clean up. But in our family picnics are about having fun, so we don’t care if anyone gets a little messy.

Dips, salads, and snacks are easy to transport and share, so they’re great backyard picnic starters. Remember picnics can be filled with healthier food choices if you want to take it to the next level and make a few dishes ahead of time. It just takes a little planning and a few yummy recipes. We love a variety of salads; potato salads, lentil & cauliflower salad, and a fresh garden salad are a few of our favorites. Make some veggie sandwiches, roll-ups, or pitas, or have a veggie tray with your favorite dip or hummus. For desserts how about a killer Rice Krispie bar, or some homemade oatmeal cookies. Instead of pop, serve lemonade or fruit juices.

For entertainment, play some games, toss a ball, or pull out your guitar and play some campfire favorites. Or take this time to catch up and share what’s been going on in your world.

Backyard picnics can be as elaborate or as simple as you choose. Whether you plan your picnic a few minutes or a few days in advance, it’s all about having fun, eating good food, and creating family memories!