Believe it or not, there is a certain finesse when packing the perfect picnic. Picnics are the perfect summer staple, and without the proper planning, a picnic can easily go south. Whether you’re planning for a simple outdoor lunch or a fancy feast, follow these steps to amaze your fellow picnickers.

A few factors tie into making sure your picnic will be one to remember. First, we’ve come up with a simple sort of checklist to follow to make ensure you aren’t forgetting any essentials.

1. Pack frozen water bottles. These are 2-in-1 because if the water is frozen, it will keep your food cold until they thaw. Then you have perfectly cold drinking water! They also save you from having to use ice packs, which can take up some pretty serious storage space in your basket.
2. If possible, pack all your foods in the same shape container. This again saves packing space by using every inch of your basket. It’s also a great idea to make sure each container is sealable. Is there anything worse than having to clean up a leaky coleslaw or runny fruit salad??
3. Pack your foods according to the weather. This may sound obvious, but paying attention to the weather is a must. During the summer, you’ll find yourself craving anything to wet your whistle. Cutting up fresh watermelon the day before your picnic is a fun and healthy way to stay hydrated. (Just don’t swallow any seeds. You don’t want a watermelon tree growing in your belly!) For the chilly months, fill up a thermos with your favorite soup, coffee or hot chocolate and curl up in the fluffiest blanket you can find. For a heartier option, you can’t go wrong with some beefy chili.
4. Don’t forget the proper eating utensils. Pack extra forks, spoons and knives in case someone drops one on the ground. And don’t forget to bring enough plastic cups or glasses! Moist towelettes, garbage bags and hand sanitizer are also some essential clean up items you won’t want to forget.
5. Bring salt and pepper. Everyone likes their food seasoned in different ways, so these are always a good idea to have on hand. You’ll also need to bring the essential condiments like ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. These wont take up much space in your basket either. If you get the small jars, of course.
6. Pick the most durable (but cute) basket. This may have to be a cooler, but there are cute ones of those too. For sensible packing, load your heaver items on the bottom, like meats, and keep your delicate items, like salad greens, on top.
7. Keep the food simple but tasty. The last thing you want to be doing before the picnic is making sure you have all the items for a fancy meal at the picnic, only to find out you’ve forgotten one. If kids will be with you, some simple sandwiches, chips, and lots of fruits and veggies will be fine. If you want more of an adult outing, throw in some cheese, bread, wine and fruit into your basket and you’ll be good to go. And pasta salad is always a good option either way! (Maybe just stay away from the smelly cheeses like gorgonzola or blue cheese..)
8. Last but not least, the gingham picnic blanket! Without it, it’s just an outdoor lunch. The red checkered picnic blanket is the signature item of the perfect picnic and just wouldn’t be one without it.

Now that you’ve got some tips on how to perfectly pack your basket, it’s time to start thinking about some easy but delicious recipes to put in those containers!

Lemon Balsamic Summer Pasta Salad Recipe click here.

Perfect Picnic Salsa Recipe click here.

Marinated Cheese Recipe click here.

Lime Fizz Recipe click here.

Picnic Chicken Salad With Blueberries Recipe click here.

Easy Fried Pies Recipe click here.