Picnics are a great opportunity for destressing from life's pressures while creating memories with family and friends. A picnic with supportive and caring friends and family has an overall positive effect on your psychological well-being by instilling a sense of security and belonging. With a little preparation, you can enjoy a picnic at any time of year. Be sure to include bug spray in your picnic basket just in case the insects decide to have their own picnic.
Tablecloth
Packing a tablecloth for your picnic holds more value than the feel-good vibe of a red and white checkered print. A tablecloth will protect your food from the spills and potential germs other picnickers leave behind. Consider buying a waterproof tablecloth that can withstand spills and weather if you are a seasonal picnicker or have children. Color is also important; warm colors are considered to invoke energizing and passionate feelings while cool tones are generally calming and relaxing.
Common Foods
Picnic foods are generally light and hearty. Fruit, pasta, egg and potato salads are common side dishes, and many families choose meats that grill quickly. Lemonade, water and sun tea are common summer picnic beverages, while hot cocoa, coffee, tea, apple cider and soup are excellent in fall and winter. Romantic picnics often include bread, wine, cheeses and sweets that can be easily shared like grapes and chocolate-covered strawberries. Campfire s'mores make excellent treats all year.
Activities
The activities that you plan for your picnic will help make the day memorable. If you are planning a family picnic or picnic with a group of friends, consider packing exciting games that the whole group can play. Frisbee, cards, kites and dominoes are excellent spring and summer activities. Football, volleyball, badminton, croquet and flashlight tag are popular games for autumn picnics. Picnics for dating couples may also include "get to know each other games."
Cooler
The Food and Drug Administration states that keeping food at proper temperatures -- cold food 40 degree Fahrenheit and below, warm food 140 degrees or higher -- is critical in preventing the growth of food-borne bacteria. Keep picnic foods in a cooler tucked away from the "danger zone," or outside for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour if outdoor temperatures are above 90 degrees. Danger zone temperatures allow bacteria to multiply rapidly, causing food-borne illness.
