Summertime, kids, and picnics are meant to go together. Having a picnic doesn't have to
be reserved for a day out at the beach or park. Kids love to eat outside, especially if it
means they don't have to stop playing to come inside and get cleaned up. If you are
going to have a picnic during an outing, be sure to practice food safety, have ice packs
in with the food or coolers and be vigilant for the safety of others around you during July 4th weekend celebrations.
Picnics can be as simple and easy as peanut butter and jam sandwiches with apples to as
complicated as fried chicken and potato salad. It all depends on how much time you have
and the preferences of those you will be serving. But whatever you make, let the kids
help you prepare.
If your little ones are active, you can prepare a picnic that consists of all finger foods. Let
the kids come and go as they please have a snack here and there as they need it. Some
easy finger foods for a picnic include:
* Cheese and crackers
* Vegetable sticks (carrots, tomatoes, and cucumber)
* Ants and dirt (fill celery sticks with peanut butter and top with raisins)
* Fruit
* Deli meat
* Hard boiled eggs
Even if none of your children are in diapers anymore, having baby wipes or another wet
wipe on hand after a picnic is necessary. They help with clean-up before and after eating.
They also can do double-duty to clean off the picnic table at a park before you use it.
Paper plates are practical but if you use them a lot they are an added expense ñ you can
pick up a plastic picnic set that is easy to wash and can be used over and over throughout
the summer.
Not nice enough outside for a picnic? Who says you can't have one indoors too!