How to Plan What Food to Take on a Picnic
You can make your picnic a success by planning ahead to take along the foods that are right for the gathering. Consider everything from the location to the guests, costs and weather conditions when making a food plan for a picnic. Factors like seating and electrical availability as well as the ages and eating habits of the attendees determine the food accommodations that need to be made. Show your guests that you thought ahead by creating a food plan to fits your next picnic event.
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Instructions
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Write down the date, time and theme or title of the picnic at the top of a piece of paper. You can create a theme or title if there is not already one connected to the event.
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Record the specific location of the picnic along with the predicted weather for the scheduled date and time. Visit online weather sites or look in the weather section of the newspaper for the forecast.
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Make a guest list of all the likely attendees and try to round up to avoid getting a low count. Make small notes by each guest's name if you are familiar with their age, lifestyle, eating habits and preferences.
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Divide the total food budget by the rounded up number of picnic guests, so you know how much you have to spend per person. For around $10 dollars person, you can serve a complete meal that includes appetizers, sides and dessert. For around $15 to $20 dollars per person, you could raise the quality of the meat dishes and incorporate fresh seafood or other delicacies.
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List out main, side dish and dessert ideas that will fit the criteria and theme that has been establish by the guests, conditions and budget. Have at least one salad, two main course options, three side dishes and two desserts. Try to add variety in the offerings by choosing dishes that use different ingredients and seasonings.
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Visit the location of the picnic a couple days in advance to evaluate the accommodations. Search for electrical and gas sources to cook or warm foods on site. Decide if the site will make any of the proposed dishes difficult to properly prepare or serve.
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Create a final food plan for the picnic that represents all the information you have gathered from your research. Generate detailed ingredients list to avoid forgetting key items when shopping.
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Tips & Warnings
Invite guests to bring snacks or beverages with them to share at the picnic to take some of the food burden off.
Keep foods above 140 degrees Fahrenheit or below 40 degrees F to avoid dangerous bacterial growth. Insulated casserole bags and bags of ice or ice gel packs work well when no electrical source is available.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit picnic image by cherie from Fotolia.com
