Barbeque season may be over in much of the United States, but fall just may be the best time to head out for a picnic, whether it’s on a family weekend getaway to a state or national park or around the corner at your neighborhood park or forest preserve. The temperatures are pleasantly cool, the leaves are bright and annoyances such as insects are fewer and further between.
Furthermore, an impromptu picnic presents you and the kids opportunities to learn about good, healthy things to eat during fall harvests and some good common-sense environmental practices. According to Amanda Torres and Managing Partner Phil Baber of Paulette’s Public Market in Chicago, having the kids get involved in the picnic prep process is part of the fun.
“A good picnic should be well-balanced,” says Torres. “Kids can help you choose a few pieces of seasonally appropriate fruit (a must), along with a small selection of cheeses and charcuterie. Our favorites at Paulette’s are Manchego, Brie, a hard salami or bresaola. Have your local deli wrap up your meats and cheeses in paper or plastic bags to ensure that they make it to the site intact. Items like rotisserie chicken or prepared salads also work well for picnics. Greek vegetable and marinated beet salads are go-to’s. With dessert, portion-controlled lemon bars, cookies, brownies and fruit tarts will definitely be a hit.”
Torres notes kids observing the shop’s picnic packing practices can be informative and reinforce good everyday eating and school lunch packing habits that will serve them well down the road. Plus, when kids observe the selection of all the components of the dishes during the shopping processes, it will ensure no one will experience allergic reactions and everybody will eat well.
In terms of helping keeping the park or forest litter-free, containers for food and cups for beverages should either be reusable or recyclable. Cute cloth napkins class up any picnic, and makes for less waste as they can be tossed in with the rest of your laundry. If you’re worried about keeping anything cold, good old-fashioned ice packs always work.
“We like the ability to personalize your picnic, so we steer away from pre-packed baskets,” she said. “This way you can choose specific items for each member of your family, based on their personal tastes and dietary needs. People are becoming more conscious of packaging, which is great. We love seeing people use reusable glass containers and washable cloth napkins at their picnics. Here at Paulette’s we allow guests to bring in their own containers for our prepared salads which definitely helps eliminate waste.”
Baber noted the process of buying picnic items and dishes is more fun when shopping locally at small businesses or farmers markets and supporting the local economy — a small civics lesson. Furthermore, if you’re in another part of the country, there’s an opportunity to get kids to try something new when buying locally crafted sides and sauces not available at a large grocer or at markets in your own neighborhood.
“The best thing about planning and executing your own picnic experience is that it’s personally yours,” affirmed Baber. “You can mix and match dishes to fit your mood and, best of all, you have full control over what you are serving.”
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedDestinations / North America
Apr 30, 2024Rhode Island’s Weekapaug Inn Rolls Out the Welcome Mat for Pets and Their People
Family travel means something different for each type of family, but for those of us with dogs, it takes on a whole meaning. Our furry friends are part of the family, and traveling with them can bring so much joy, but also a great deal of stress in trying to find the perfect blend of luxury, fun and relaxation while making sure our pets get the comfort and care they deserve.
Sponsored Content
Make the Most of Hamad International Airport When Transferring
Making travel plans can be exciting; did you know planning on how to spend time at the airport the right way can enrich the overall trip experience? As a transfer hub, traveling through Doha's Hamad International Airport is a unique experience, as waiting never feels like waiting at one of the best airports in the world.
Destinations / Mexico
Apr 30, 2024Make Blue Diamond Resorts Your Mother’s Day Getaway
With Mother's Day right around the corner, it's time to plan the perfect getaway for mom. Gift your mom the life of luxury at one of Blue Diamond Resort’s all-inclusive luxury resorts.
Destinations / North America
Apr 29, 2024Spend Memorial Day Weekend in Fort Myers, Florida
Plan a trip to Fort Myers, Florida, for Memorial Day weekend family travel. The Fort Myers – Islands, Beaches & Neighborhoods area offers plenty of family fun in the sun.
Sponsored Content
United Continues Its Global Expansion
United Airlines keeps soaring to new heights, recently announcing another expansion of its leading global route network. The airline added new non-stop flights between Newark (EWR) and Marrakesh (RAK), Morocco; Tokyo (NRT) and Cebu (CEB), Philippines; and Houston (IAH) and Medellin (MDE), Colombia. That’s not all: United also plans to increase flights to popular worldwide destinations including Hong Kong (HKG); Seoul (INC), South Korea; and Porto (OPO), Portugal. Following the recent agreement to increase flights between the U.S. and Chinese governments, the airline now adds four weekly flights from Los Angeles (LAX) to Shanghai (PVG).
Destinations / Europe
Apr 29, 2024A New Science Museum for Kids Opens in Portugal’s Algarve
Lagos is a lively town in Portugal’s western Algarve, and a new attraction there makes it especially appealing to family travelers. Lagos Ciência Viva Science Centre is filled with innovative hands-on activities centering around the science of navigation, and as kids (and parents) move through interactive exhibits, they also learn about an important part of the history of Lagos and the world.
ShareThis