How to Pack the perfect Picnic Basket

Pack the perfect picnic basket to start your picnic off right.

A fun way to celebrate a warm summer day is to have a picnic. It's a great way to spend time outside with the family at a local park or the beach or to have a romantic afternoon with someone special. Enjoying the food together will provide time to talk and simply be near each other. By following some guidelines, you can make your picnic as enjoyable as possible.

Instructions

1. Plan the entire menu of your picnic a few days ahead of time. This will give you ample time to shop for the items you need and to prepare each dish. Choose dishes that taste good when cold or room temperature. That way you can make everything the night before and store it in the refrigerator overnight.

2. Make sure your menu includes, at least, a main dish, one side dish, desert and drink. The menu doesn't have to be complicated. For example, you could prepare
   turkey sandwiches, pasta salad and peanut butter cookies and wash it down with lemonade.

3. Pull out your picnic basket. Of course, not everyone has a picnic basket specifically, but almost any container of the right size will work just fine. A backpack or small suitcase makes a great picnic basket.

4. Find a large blanket to eat on during your picnic. It should be big enough to accomadate all the food that you are taking with you. Fold it nicely and place it in the bottom of your picnik basket.

5. Think of all the utensils you will need to eat the meal you planned. Plates, forks, spoons and knives (if necessary) are obvious, but don't forget napkins. Cloth napkins work well during a picnic since they won't blow away and litter the environment. Glasses, can openers and a tarp (to keep the bottom of your blanket dry if it's rained recently) are all things that can make or break your picnic.

6. Pack all the food you prepared in plastic containers or zip-close bags. Packing food that may leak first in a zip-close bag and then in a plastic container eliminates the risk of mess.

7. Pack everything in your basket, and check one last time to make sure you are taking everything you need before you leave. Even if you do forget something, laugh it off and make the best of it.

References

• Woman's Day: What to Pack in Your Picnic Basket