Part of the magic of a family day out is unpacking a picnic in the great outdoors. A shop-bought sarnie or a café cheese toasty just doesn’t have the same appeal as a homemade feast scoffed al fresco. But what to pack to please everyone?
The secret to planning the perfect picnic is variety: you’ll need just enough nutrient-rich fail safes to boost their energy levels for the rest of the afternoon, plenty of delicious drinks to hydrate them after a jam-packed morning and a selection of healthy treats… because a picnic isn’t the same without the treats!
Here’s what to pack for your summer adventures…
The sandwich
The Green Genie: For a lunch you’ll enjoy as much as the kids, add some fresh mozzarella and a few spoons of fresh pesto to some wholemeal bread. Add torn spinach and thinly sliced avocado.
The Jam & Cheese: This sounds like an unlikely combo- until you try it. Spread some sourdough with a thick berry jam, add some grated cheddar or brie and devour. Bliss.
The Power Pitta: Dice some smoked turkey, add toasted almonds, cucumber, halved seedless red grapes and slivers of celery, mix in a dollop of mayo and pile into a wholemeal pitta for a moreish meal with real bite.
The Side
If you’re picnicking en famille, one or two tubs of something delicious will feed the whole gang. Try a hearty guacamole or some al dente penne pasta, drizzled in olive oil, a little vinegar and a squeeze of fresh lemon.
Some crafty chopping will make healthy bites easier for little fingers. Try popping some Thousand Island dressing into the end of paper cups and standing some veggie crudite on top.
The Treat
The perfect meal should finish with something sweet, and picnics are no different. Choose something natural, tasty and wholesome like fruit skewers (add grapes, strawberries pineapple, mango and apple) or whip up a batch of five-minute fudge the night before- these little cubes go down a storm with adults and kids alike.
The Sip
Summer adventures make for thirsty adventurers. Fill a cooler with Capri Sun pouches, which now come with a clever Super Easy Opening pouch… so no more spills!
With a range of 12 great fruity flavours and no artificial sweeteners, flavours, colours or preservatives kids and mums agree that Capri-Sun is Ireland’s favourite juice drink.
