Picnics and Parties

Do you like hosting backyard BBQ's, going on picnics with your children/friends, and planning summertime deck parties? We love summer and we practically live on the deck all summer long. We have even been known to eat dinner outside as late as November in years when it has been a mild autumn! We especially loved picnics when the girls were younger. We still go on picnics but now that they are older we tend to go camping and hiking so that is a bit different to prepare for. (that will be another article!) SO....if you have children and want to spend a fun day with them out in nature, try a picnic!
Here are some tips for keeping food safe when you are picnicking.

• Chill your food completely and pack it in coolers just before you leave the house.
• Place the coolers on the floor of your backseat rather than your trunk, espeically if you are driving for more than an hour and it is extremely hot/humid.
• Use plenty of ice and freezer packs to keep food cold. Place a layer of ice on bottom and put meat right on the ice. What we do: we take meat that is still slightly frozen, package it in another freezer bag & lay it right on the ice. Then you can add your condiments, etc.
• Bring your veggies and dressing along with you in the cooler and once you reach your destination, prepare the salad. It will stay crisper and fresher! Avoid using mayo.
• Take 2 coolers....one for food and one for drinks.
• Leave coolers in shade once you are at your destination.
• DO NOT eat food that has been left out of a cooler for more than an hour! Last year my husband had horrible food poisoning from food that had been left out, unchilled, at a graduation party. Not pleasant! Hot foods need to stay hot and that is impossible on a picnic. Cold foods need to stay cold! The best thing is to just cook enough as needed (4 people, 4 burgers) and eat right away. The salads should stay in cooler once everyone has had a helping. Same for condiments. Use and then pack it back! If ice has melted, throw out the food!
• Cut up your veggies the nite before and place in freezer bags; simply bring a plastic container to mix all the salad things in it and only make enough for the people in your group.
• Avoid leftovers!
• DO NOT FEED wildlife.
  

Once you are at the picnic site, allow your children to set the table. Give them a colored sheet or picnic tablecloth and if it is windy have them find large rocks to hold it in place. We tend to pack the tablecloth holders that we bring when we go camping. But the kids like to find large rocks to keep the cloth down and it gives them something to do while you are getting the food out!
Once you have had a great meal, play frisbee, fly a kite, ride bikes if you brought them, go swimming if you are near a beach or pool, play cards, read picture books and then draw something from the book.
Play I Spy, Tag, Red-Light Green Light, Mother May I, etc. Young children love to stay busy. You can even pack empty yogurt cups, plastic spoons, pails, shovels and cookie cutters and let them play in the sand or dirt.
After a fun day, build a fire and make s'mores.
Head home with fond memories of a picnic that was safe, nutritious and fun!
In the next faithfixes, please look for picnic recipe ideas for families with children ages 2-20! I guarentee that I will not be recommending hot dogs!!