Tips for a Perfect Picnic

Portable food can be eaten in the backyard, by a babbling brook, on a sunny hillside or on the side of the road. Anywhere and anytime, picnics are fun. A portable lunch in a basket is a great way to save money and eat healthy too. The next time you're planning a car trip or an outing with child or grandchild that involves food, use these tips for a perfect picnic.

Keep Food Cold 

Freeze bottles of water to serve double-duty in a picnic basket. The ice will keep the food cool and when it thaws, you'll have cold water to drink. Bottles or boxes of juice can also be frozen and serve double-duty on the picnic day.

Keep Food Hot 

If hot soup is part of the picnic basket, make sure it stay hot with this trick - Pour hot water into a thermos and let sit for 2-3 minutes until the inside of the thermos heats up. Pour hot water out and fill thermos with hot soup (or other hot food). The heated thermos will keep the soup hotter longer. Use this trick for hot coffee or cocoa too.

Pack Light 

Bottles of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise take up valuable space in a picnic basket, reduce the space hogs with small pack of condiments instead. Each time you patronize a fast food restaurant, save the extra packets of ketchup, mustard, salt, etc. and stash them in your picnic basket. Next time you plan an outing, the small packets of condiments will be ready and waiting, saving you time and space.

Clean Up 

Tuck a couple plastic grocery bags in your picnic basket to make clean up a snap. Stash trash in the bags, tie and toss into picnic basket after eating and until you reach a trash can.

Plastic Table Cloth 

Thin plastic table cloths can be purchased for a buck at most dollar stores and are invaluable for picnic use. Spread on public picnic table for a clean spot to eat or spread on ground for a clean, dry spot to sit.

Be Prepared 

You can be prepared even for an impromptu picnic by keeping a small bottle of hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, paper products and a can opener in your picnic basket. Grab some sandwich fixings and drinks, toss in the basket and head out the door in minutes when basic things are already packed and waiting.