Picnic Tips For Your Family:
You CAN Have Fun on a Family Picnic

by Tammie Thompson

Keep Food Cold
Spoiled food can ruin a family outing faster than you can say "ants". Gelled ice packs are the answer, but if you're short on space, consider adding frozen juice boxes or frozen yogurt or pudding sticks, which also act as afternoon snacks.

Pack the Essentials
Keep extra knives, bottle openers, napkins, cutting board, Ziploc bags, garbage bags, plastic utensils and extra plastic containers in your picnic basket or cooler. It eliminates last minute forgetfulness.

Ground & Table Covers
Pack an old sheet or blanket for lounging picnics. Inexpensive plastic tablecloths that can be thrown in the wash are a nice touch for picnic tables. Look for tablecloth clips at camping stores. They keep the cloth down even at the windiest spots. Throw in some cloth napkins as paper napkins blow away as well.

Get Creative with Bread
Think outside the breadbox to pita, wraps, baguettes, and a mixture of crackers. Creative sandwiches create a picnic adventure.

Make Cleanup Easy
Don't forget the garbage bags! Include Ziploc bags for leftover food. Add some moist towelettes (baby wipes work great) to wipe down containers and hands.

More on Family Picnicking here.

...... Tammie Thompson has put together her share of family picnics. Ms. Thompson lives in Truckee, CA with her husband and two children.