Picnics Made Easy

Picnicking is a great way to take advantage of long summer days and starlit nights. Kids love to eat outdoors because they can make a mess without getting into trouble, and eating outside means less cleanup, so everybody wins.

Here are some ideas for spur-of-the-moment picnics and summertime fun with your family, whether you're trekking to a local park or eating in your own back yard:

Plan for spontaneity

• Spend a few minutes online researching nearby parks and other outdoor recreation spots. Don't overlook places like the zoo, nature preserves, museum grounds and berry-picking farms. Keep a list of potential picnic sites posted on your refrigerator or in your purse for inspiration.
• Stock your picnic basket with disposable or lightweight plastic dishes, paper napkins and a trash bag.
• Keep a stash of mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard and relish packets in a zip-top bag so you won't have to pack full bottles of condiments.
• Purchase small containers of sunscreen, bug spray and hand sanitizer, and keep them together in a zip-top bag.
• Pack a small first-aid kit that includes bandages and antibacterial ointment.
• Clean out your cooler so it's ready to use.
• Keep reusable ice packs or a bag of ice in the freezer for icing down drinks and picnic foods.
• Store swimming and water-play items'beach towels, sunscreen, floating toys, goggles-in one convenient place for picnics at a lake or a water park.
• Keep a pair of sneakers at work so you'll be ready to meet your family at a nearby park for a quick picnic lunch break.

How and what to pack

• Freeze water, juice or tea in sports bottles. They will thaw and be ready to drink as the day progresses.
• For safety, keep cold foods at 40 degrees or colder. Pack foods right from the refrigerator to the cooler. Travel with the cooler in the passenger area of the car, not in the trunk. At the picnic site, place the cooler in the shade, with the lid closed.
• Pack the cooler in reverse order. Put dessert in first, then your entrée and side dishes, then appetizers. Or, you can place heavier items on the bottom of the cooler or basket and fragile foods-sandwiches, fruits and delicate desserts-at the top.
• Reserve the cooler for perishable items and ice; pack nonperishable foods separately.
• Return perishable foods to the cooler or refrigerator as soon as you finish eating.

Fun for all

• Before or after the picnic, enjoy low-tech fun such as skipping rocks on a lake, flying kites and playing catch.
• Create a simple scavenger hunt. Make a list of objects for the hunters to bring back, such as a pine cone, a smooth stone, a feather, something with a hole in it, a piece of plastic, etc.
• Take a spontaneous evening picnic to a park with a view and watch the sunset.
• Invite other families to meet you at a park for a picnic.

Backyard fun

• Store paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic utensils, unbreakable salt and pepper shakers, and a tray near the back door for quick table-setting outside.
• Store yard-game equipment-balls, Frisbees, horseshoes, badminton and crochet gear-in one area in the garage for easy retrieval.
• Be ready for critters. Stock up on citronella candles to ward off pesky mosquitoes. To cure a wasp problem, put 2 inches of vinegar in a long-necked bottle. (They are attracted to the smell, will crawl in and won't be able to crawl out.) Plant marigolds and mint-natural bug deterrents'near where you eat on your patio or deck. Keep a trash can nearby for fast cleanup. Glue a pest strip to the lid of your trash can to control flies.
• Eat a picnic dinner by candlelight on your patio.
• Catch fireflies in a jar and watch them light up. Try to time the intervals between flashes. Notice the variations in color. After enjoying them for a short time, release them.
• Stash old bedspreads or quilts in a convenient closet to pull out and lie on after dark. Have a star chart and flashlight handy so you can identify specific constellations and planets in the night sky.

Picnicking may be an old-fashioned tradition, but it's the perfect way for modern families to enjoy a simple, spontaneous meal and summertime fun.

Story by Kathy Peel of Dallas.

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