This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Mizzou chapter.
The most relaxing summertime activity for anyone who loves the outdoors and food is having a picnic. You can go on a date with your friends at a park, field or the beach. No matter what location you choose, I have compiled a list of the foods you need to make your picnic meal complete. Choose a food to make or buy from each category and your picnic basket will keep you full during your trip into nature.
Salads
- Fruit salad: cut up any of your favorite fruit and gently mix it together (watermelon, green and red grapes, and strawberries is my favorite combination).
- Pasta salad: this recipe makes a refreshing salad and only takes a few minutes.
- Greek salad: cut up your lettuce of choice, a cucumber, an onion, a tomato and crumble feta cheese. Add any greek salad dressing and carefully combine.
Sandwiches
- Caprese sandwich: this recipe makes a filling and refreshing sandwich that won’t be too heavy on your stomach.
- PB&J: this is a classic, and it will take only a few minutes to make because all you need is bread, peanut butter and your favorite jelly.
- Pickle sub: take your favorite sandwich and instead of bread, put the meat, vegetables and sauce in between a sliced pickle.
- Grilled cheese: this is another classic. All you need it bread, butter and your favorite kind of cheese. Spice it up by adding deli meat or veggies.
Sides
- Chips and salsa: grab your favorite kind or tortilla chips to dip in any salsa (Donkey Salsa is my favorite).
- Lays and french onion dip: this is my go-to for a picnic,.
- Carrots and hummus: cut up a large carrot or get a bunch of baby carrots. This hummus recipe shows you how to make creamy hummus from scratch.
Desserts
- Popsicles: you can buy your favorite brand at the store or make your own using popsicle makers and leaving them in the freezer for a few hours or overnight.
- Chocolate chip cookies: you can make these from scratch or buy them. As a bonus you can make ice cream sandwiches out of the cookies by adding your favorite ice cream in between two cookies.
- S’mores bars: this recipe shows you an easy way to make this delicious treat.