Packing for a Picture-Perfect Picnic The Easy Way

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Some people light up at the idea of a potluck or a picnic. They simply can’t wait to try out that new recipe they saw on British Bake Off, or add their own twist to the delicious appetizers their friend brought to the school bake sale last year.

I love those people. I love inviting those people to every food-related event I throw or attend.

Unfortunately, however, I am not one of those people. Not in the slightest.

Yet here I am, seven years into parenting and kids who eat solid foods, acting as their primary caretaker/lunch packer/snack provider. So I’ve picked up some tricks that combine the good, the bad, and the downright healthy.

Apple slices: You really can’t go wrong. Chop them into chunks or slice them thin like chips. Hydrating, yet satisfying!

Salami-wrapped breadsticks: A fun way to package two snacks in one, just roll them together for a tasty treat.

Have pasta leftover? Makes a good old grainy snack on the go.

Sunflower or nut butter sandwiches: I am not kidding when I say that sometimes I buy eight slices of bread, load them up with sunflower or nut butter (depending on the allergies of our friends), and cut them into 32 sandwich squares. More often than not, they become my own lunch as well!

Carrot cookies and celery sticks: If you slice carrots into thin circles, kids can pretend like they’re cookies. Add celery sticks and some raisins to trick them into more nutritious snacking.

Oat bars for the hangries: No matter if you’re trekking The Great Wall or enjoying a peaceful picnic with hundreds of your closest friends, kids are going to get hangry (hungry and thus, angry). Oat bars may be marginally healthy, but dangit, they satisfy the hangries pretty fast.

Brie and bread: It sounds fancy, but it just takes some key purchases and cutting up slices for easy consumption. Kids think it’s dessert and it can be very filling!

Halved-strawberries: Get yourself a good kg of strawberries, wash them, cut them, and chip them in half for the most perfectly sweet treat on a hot picnic day.

Water, water, everywhere: Don’t count on water bottles being available, or even fountains nearby. We’ll have them for Jingkids‘ Summer Fling of course, but you need to keep them handy at a moment’s notice when you have wee ones. I fill up every reusable bottle we own and toss it in a bag.

This is a bit of a tease since it’s hard to find Goldfish in Beijing. But you get the point.

Filler snacks: You don’t have to be proud of these ones. But they will help while you wait in line for the delicious vendors! I’m talking Cheerios, cheese crackers, etc.

As capable as we might be of packing our own picnic lunches, it's always good to have professional options, such as this new picnic box recently launched by East Beijing!

Inside you will find fresh fruits, sandwiches and sweets which perfectly suit spring and summer time picnics, camping and other fun family gatherings. 

This is available daily at Domain and retails at RMB288 / box. You may scan the QR code below to order as well.

Images: Cindy Marie Jenkins, EAST Beijing

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