My advice for a successful picnic

Picnic season is ON! This activity is easily in my top 3 of my favorite summer activities. For seven years, I lived in a small apartment in Montreal, and for me, picnics have been a way of escaping to eat in nature. Whether it is a small park in town, on the beach or in the mountains, it always makes me so happy!

Before everything, it's important to be well prepared for a picnic. Over time, I developed a few little tips to make these moments perfectly enjoyable, and I share those with you today!

1. Have a picnic set

What should you have? A lovely basket and/or a cooler, cutlery, tableware, water bottles, airtight containers, napkins, wet wipes, a garbage bag and another for dirty dishes, a nice tablecloth in fabric or a blanket!

2. Choosing the right menu

The contents of your picnic should depend on the activity and the location of the picnic. For example, if you are going for a hike, bring something very nutritious and easy to pack. If you plan to eat your picnic on the beach between two swims, choose refreshing and light foods.

3. Keep your food fresh

Use a cooler and/or ice packs. Nothing is more unpleasant than eating foods that have heated up in the sun...

4. Choose foods that are easy to transport and eat

It is best to bring food in airtight containers. For example, salads, crackers, spreads (tofu, hummus, vegan cheese), sandwiches, fruits and vegetables, nuts, muffins, cookies, etc. Also, choose foods that are easy to eat with your hands! Bring already washed and ready-to-eat fruits such as grapes, clementines, apples, strawberries and berries. The same goes for vegetables: carrots, celery, cauliflower and broccoli florets. Several foods should be avoided during picnics. Why? Because of the heat, their conservation and the fact that they are not transported well... For example, avoid ice cream, fragile fruits (bananas, peaches, pears, etc.) and chocolate.

5. Vary your foods (whole grains, fruits, vegetables and protein)

For whole grains, you can opt for rice, pasta, couscous, and quinoa salads. You can also bring sandwiches made with wholemeal bread or tortillas, crackers, muffins and/or cookies for dessert. For protein, I suggest tofu spreads, chickpeas and/or cashews that are perfectly eaten in a sandwich or on crackers!

6. Bring water!

Nothing is more unpleasant than dying of thirst after eating. It's super important to always bring water! You can have fun flavoring your water to make it different. Add lemon and/or lime slices, basil leaves or fresh mint. Also, you could bring these Vegan Pro pouches for a quick beverage!

7. One last tip…

Create your sandwiches directly on site! If you assemble your sandwiches ahead of time, the bread may get wet when it's time to eat it. The same goes for your salads. Cut and organize the vegetables beforehand, but add the dressing just before eating.

Have a wonderful picnic!

By Katia Bricka
Writer at RAW Nutritional