Picnic-Friendly Foods

Summer is a great time to pack a picnic to share with your family and friends, and go exploring at a park, museum, or even your back yard! Who else can remember having a fun picnic experience with loved ones?

A typical picnic will have ready-to-eat foods, which are foods that do not require much prep ahead of time.

Some picnic friendly foods:

• Nut or seed butters, which are protein-packed and less likely to spoil on a picnic compared to deli meat
• Whole fruit, like washed apples, bananas, and grapes
• Whole grain bread, tortilla wraps, crackers, which are good sources of fiber
• Hard cheese, such as low-fat Parmesan or cheddar cheese
• Canned chicken breast or fish, which do not need refrigeration until after they are opened

Ready to plan your picnic? Ask yourself these questions before you head out the door:

1. Are there any food allergies?
   Be sure to check in with your picnic guests about any allergies. Peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, and fish allergies are common and usually serious.
2. What will the temperature be? Will it be 90°F or hotter?
   If the temperature the day of your picnic is 90°F or hotter, you will want to add ice packs or freeze water bottles to keep foods cold, such as deli meats, deviled eggs, yogurt, salads, etc. Bringing an insulated cooler filled with ice is another way to keep perishable foods cold on your picnic. 
3. How long will your picnic last?
   If you are planning on stopping for a lunch lasting over an hour, plan to pack non-perishable food items, such as popcorn trail mix, homemade energy bars, or pumpkin peanut butter sandwiches. Visit eatsmart.umd.edu for more picnic-friendly food recipes.

Looking for some more picnic food safety advice? Visit https://www.foodsafety.gov/blog/2015/06/picnic.html 

Enjoy exploring the great outdoors with your friends and family this summer!