Pack a basket with treats children make themselves for outdoor eating adventures

Say “picnic” to children and watch their faces light up. Magic happens when meals are eaten in the open air. Maybe it’s eating in a different place—outdoors, on the ground—with no table or chairs! Maybe it’s the special picnic food, the easy-to-transport-and-nibble treats. Even spontaneous rainy-day picnics inside on the playroom rug guarantee delight. Children also adore the opportunity to cook, so double the fun by letting them prepare their own picnic goodies.

Make these kid-friendly picnic favourites

Picnic foods children make themselves needn’t be complicated. Think no-cook snacks and bite-size finger food, simple sandwiches, cheese sticks, fruit and vegetable chunks, drinkable yoghurt cups, and you’re there. A little adult supervision is the trick to get things ready.

Combine handfuls of small biscuits, dried cranberries or raisins, almonds and a favourite dry cereal for a jazzy snack mix. Make rainbow fruit wands alternating apple, pear, melon or pineapple chunks, strawberries, and grapes on wooden skewers; for safety’s sake, break off the pointed end after the fruit is on.Use rolls of sliced ham or turkey, cooked hot-dog or tofu-dog chunks, green pepper slices, stuffed olives, and cheese cubes to vary skewer combinations.Make funny face sandwiches using a 3- or 4-inch (8- to 10-cm) round pastry cutter to cut out bread slice circles. Place a circle of cheese on the bread and use cucumber rounds, pepper slices, cherry tomato halves, and sliced olives to make eyes, nose, eyebrows, and mouth. Spread whole-wheat tortillas with softened cream cheese, then layer your child's favourite salad leaves, turkey or ham slices, and grated carrots; roll them up and they’re ready to go. “Hold them together with a party toothpick and they’ll look pretty, too,” advises Gillen Freebing, age 13, of Memphis, Tennessee.Toss precooked bow tie or elbow pasta with mayonnaise, peas, and halved cherry tomatoes; season with salt and pepper for a flavoursome picnic salad. Stash water bottles or juice boxes in the freezer an hour before leaving so they’re super cold; add fizzy water to juice for a fizzy drink substitute. Buy these picnic essentials, too

Ensure children have a super-fine picnic by packing these basics in their basket:

Large blanket or tablecloth to sit onNonbreakable plates, cups, and utensilsNapkins, handiwipes, and paper towelsA large rubbish bag (don’t leave any litter behind)Sunscreen, insect repellentThink no-cook snacks and bite-sized finger food

Related reading

Cool Children in the KitchenBasic Suncare for ChildrenFirst Aid Kit IdeasSummer Children SnacksTaste of the Summer

Judith H. Dern

Judith H. Dern, an independent writer living in Seattle, is especially fond of picnics on warm summer evenings before performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

2007-09-01