How to plan a family picnic

Lost art of family Picnics

Most of us grew up reading secret seven and enchanted woods, which painted an idealised view of what makes a picnic. Today there are corporate picnics to mingle, Friday night leadership drink outs, theme parks to splurge and family dine-ins.

Somehow the art of humble family picnics which kids looked forward to on the onset of spring/summer is lost. The modern man is torn apart between office deadlines and traffic jams. The weekends are gone in catching upon pending sleep, washing and cleaning. The recreation factor with children is playing a virtual game of Xbox and watching the next Disney blockbuster.

The need for a family picnic is spur of the moment day out is the need of the hour.

Most children growing up in the 80s kept humming the phrase “Lets, go for a picnic”! Back then mum’s would get up so early and prepare fried rice, chicken curry, salads and juices stack up the picnic baskets which were almost gutted along with rackets, corks and Ludo’s. This almost feels like a Jane Austin drama like Pride and Prejudice where picnics would involve lugging seven course feasts and matching crockery halfway up the mountain.

But, rather it’s time to proliferate the idea of impromptu fun family picnics which is a rarity today away from Wi-Fi and social media. (Sigh….Quite sure Facebook would add a new status update going for a Picnic with X, Y and Z)

DID YOU KNOW?

The word PICNIC is thought to come from the French piquer, meaning to pick or peck, and nique, a thing of little importance. After the French revolution, the gardens at Versailles were opened to the public for visiting places and taking food was born.

Picnic Planning

For all working couples this picnic planning works wonders. Pack things like baguettes, salads, nuts and desserts in recycled jam jars. Invest in a good cane picnic hamper. All the stuff arrives in better shape, and cutting down on packaging helps the environment from getting littered.

Go for light or disposable cutlery and crockery – a flask is great for ice.

Keep all the grown-ups happy by packing spirits and alcohol-free wine.

Fill a freezer safe water bottle in the night before and lay it on its side in the freezer. At the picnic, top it up with cold water and you will have refreshing ice-cold water to drink.

Prepare your jars overnight and store it in the refrigerator and carry it the next morning in your picnic hamper. The morning is left to get fresh and start out early for a picnic.

Flies and wasps are attracted to sweet drinks. Pack a few silver foils and cupcake cases and put it upside down over each glass like an umbrella.

Poke a straw through the paper no more bugs!

Don’t let the weather wane your plans, in-case rain god is over pleased. Rather than disappointing your kids recreate the fun at home. Spread the blanket on the living room floor, set out the picnic hamper and tuck it in.

Here is a quick idea for interesting and delicious layered blackberry Victoria sandwich which are perfect for picnics. Whether you want a delicious dessert to finish your picnic or a round off of your alfresco lunch we have the solution for you. Please follow the link to find the recipe for the blackberry Victoria sandwich.