Top 10 Essentials For a Picnic

Hamper

This is a no brainer: how else are you going to carry food? You may not want to lug around a big ol’ hamper, so wooden crates – the kind fresh fruit and vegetables are carried in – can be a great alternative, as well as a cheaper one. Most hampers provide nice spaces for plates, forks, knives and spoons. Traditionally made from woven wood and twine, this helps keep them light yet very sturdy.

Cooler Box

Ice packs are also handy to keep drinks and any food that may go bad in warm weather, such as seafood, if you plan to barbecue. The more sturdy cooler boxes are great for cans and bottles. Flexible cooler bags are great for food. If you plan on taking a sturdy plastic cooler box and plan not to take to many drinks, having a plastic bucket filled with ice will provide an ice cold drink without taking up to much space.

Portable Barbecue/Grill

When out on a hot summer’s day, barbecues are certain to happen, so why should being away from your home stop you from firing up a grill and cooking your favorite food? A few items to have on standby are a spray bottle (to help with any out of control fires) and Aloe Vera to help with burns.

Picnic Blanket

A picnic blanket is essential not only for comfort, but also for keeping insects and dirt from getting on any food you may have lying around. If you are with younger children, having a larger blanket will give them room to play house.

Plastic Cups, Utensils and Cutlery

Plastic cutlery is great for picnics due to the limited amount of space they take up, plus they are great for when children are around as plastic doesn’t shatter into tiny pieces, so injuries will be minor if they happen. When you have finished with the cups and utensils you can simply throw them away. When buying cutlery and cups for a picnic, make sure the plastic is durable – you don’t want and cutlery breaking on you when trying to cut through any food you have prepared.

Small Medical Kit

Items such as insect repellant, plasters, antiseptic wipes and bandages are handy to have nearby in case of any scrapes or cuts you may get, if you plan to picnic in an area with large trees. Being able to calmly deal with a cut or scrape, using an anti septic wipe and a plaster will save a lot of time with the kids. Suntan lotion is also a must in hot weather.

Cutting Board

A decent-sized cutting board is a great thing to have on a picnic. If you choose to take fresh bread or meat with you, having a place to cut the food will help. If you plan to prepare meat, taking a plastic board will stop germs such as salmonella spreading onto fresh bread or salads. With two boards you can get someone to help you prepare different foods quicker, so you can relax while other people cook and the children play. Then when everything is ready people can just help themselves.

Water

Water is extremely important in warm weather. Lack of hydration could lead to serious problems such as fainting and heat stroke. Younger children should be kept in shaded areas every few hours and should drink water to keep their hydration levels up. Setting up a parasol and having young children sit under that whilst drinking water or juice will help cool them down. When drinking water you can put extra suntan lotion on them if they need it.

Different Clothes

Having clothes for all types of weather is nice to have even if they don’t get used.

Outdoor Games

Great for keeping children entertained.

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