Packing the perfect picnic basket

This summer, we’ll enjoy every possible outdoor moment by eating alfresco. We can’t wait to take advantage of the fresh air, lots of room to play and not needing to sweep the kitchen floor! We’ll pack up the kids and park gear and head off to enjoy a meal outdoors. The only challenging part is figuring out what exactly to put in our picnic basket.

There are a few musts in making the perfect picnic meal. It has to be:

• Portable
• Minimally messy
• Delicious and nutritious

Tried and true picnic staples are always a good idea. Think hard-boiled eggs, veggies and dips, like hummus and guacamole, plus fresh cut fruit. The easiest and quickest picnic sandwich idea is the classic peanut butter and jelly but we think you should take it up a notch this summer. Swap out your peanut butter for some homemade Brazil nut butter. It’s a super simple recipe with just a few ingredients and minimal prep time required.

Salads are always popular for a picnic. After all, nothing is more synonymous with a red and white checkered tablecloth than potato and pasta salad. We’re all about adding a dose of extra veggies into these picnic staples using recipes like Simple Bite’s Garden Vegetable Pasta Salad and Ricardo’s Potato and Corn Salad. Keep them fresh by storing them in metal bowls. They’re perfect for packing up salads and the metal material ensures that your food will stay cool while the lids will prevent any spills.

Of course, no picnic is complete without the perfect snack foods to refuel after tossing a ball around. We’re all for feeding our family the healthier option, that’s why Bassé Omega Power Mix is our go-to. Sold in a bag of 12 single serve packs, everyone can have their own and no pre-packing is required.

Finally, a pitcher of homemade lemonade will round out your picnic experience.

Now that you’ve planned the perfect meal all that’s left to do is round up your clan and get ready to make some summer memories!