health guides

Make these child-friendly picnic favourites

Picnic foods children make themselves needn’t be complicated. Think no-cook snacks and bite-size finger food, simple sandwiches, cheese sticks, fruit and vegetable chunks, drinkable yoghurt cups, and you’re there. A little adult supervision is the trick to get things ready.

• Combine handfuls of small biscuits, dried cranberries or raisins, almonds, and a favourite dry cereal for a jazzy trail mix.

• Make rainbow fruit wands alternating apple, pear, melon, or pineapple chunks, strawberries, and grapes on wooden skewers; for safety’s sake, break off the pointed end after the fruit is on.

• Use rolls of sliced ham or turkey, cooked hot-dog or tofu-dog chunks, green pepper slices, stuffed olives, and cheese cubes to vary skewer combinations.

• Make funny face sandwiches using a 3- or 4-inch (8- to 10-cm) round cookie cutter to cut out bread slice circles. Place a circle of cheese on the bread and use cucumber rounds, pepper slices, cherry tomato halves, and sliced olives to make eyes, nose, eyebrows, and mouth.

• Spread whole-wheat tortillas with softened cream cheese, then layer your child's favourite salad leaves, turkey or ham slices, and grated carrots; roll them up and they’re ready to go. “Hold them together with a party toothpick and they’ll look pretty, too,” advises Gillen Freebing, age 13, of Memphis, Tennessee.

• Toss precooked bow tie or elbow pasta with mayo, peas, and halved cherry tomatoes; season with salt and pepper for a flavourful picnic salad.

• Stash water bottles or juice boxes in the freezer an hour before leaving so they’re super cold; add fizzy water to juice for a fizzy drink substitute.

Buy these picnic essentials, too

Ensure children have a super-fine picnic by packing these basics in their basket:

• Large blanket or tablecloth to sit on
• Nonbreakable plates, portions, and utensils
• Napkins, handiwipes, and paper towels
• A large garbage bag (don’t leave any trash behind)
• Sunscreen, insect repellent