Family picnics make for some of the best memories of all. A picnic on a sunny day brings the benefits of fresh air and sunshine. Sunshine allows us to make vitamin D which helps build strong bones and teeth. But the very best thing about a picnic is having fun with family. It is a time to talk, to share stories, to laugh together, and to bond. It is a time to plays games like frisbee, ball, badminton, or soccer.

Here are some of the essential items you will need to pack along.

  1. Picnic blankets – even if you get a picnic table, it is always important to have blankets to sit on before and after you eat. Bring a felt-backed tablecloth or two – they are great for picnic tables and to use under your blanket if the ground is damp. Some of your family members may prefer folding chairs.
  2. Bags or containers for dirty cutlery and dishes, wet wipes, sunscreen, and hand sanitizer.
  3.  Plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins or paper towels.
  4.  Food and drinks! Bring salads, sandwiches or other main dishes, snacks, fruit (watermelon is perfect), raw veggies, nuts, or whatever tickles your fancy. Don’t forget a reusable water bottle for each person, and some extra water for refills. Pack your food in a lightweight, portable cooler with ice packs!
  5. Outdoor games and toys – ball, frisbee, badminton set, kite, sand toys, bubbles, binoculars, etc.

The one thing to remember is that greenspaces are fragile, and it is really important to leave your picnic space as clean or cleaner than when you arrived.

Today, I am going to share a recipe that was my kids favorite picnic food – you might think it is a little strange, but trust me, it is good! It is a pita sandwich with a peanut butter and carrot filling. I remember when my daughter was 6 and my son was 3, we went on a picnic at Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC. My son was especially excited about eating his sandwich. He was holding the pita pocket with two hands and just after taking his first bite, a seagull swooped down and snatched the sandwich from him, swallowing the whole thing in one gulp. My son burst into tears, and said, “that seagull ate my sandwich”. It was a large ½ pita jam-packed with the peanut butter carrot filling. We could see a huge bulge in the seagull’s throat as it made its way down the bird’s gullet. Thankfully, we had an extra sandwich!

Seedy Carrot and Peanut Butter Pita Sandwiches
Makes 2 cups of filling This filling is fun and easy to make. The seeds are a wonderful, nutritious addition. Vary them as you like.
  • 5 tablespoons natural peanut butter
  • 3 tablespoons lemon or lime juice
  • 2 cups grated carrots, packed
  • 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
  • 2 tablespoons hempseeds
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
  • 1/3 cup raisins
  • A pinch of salt to taste
  1. In a medium bowl, stir together the peanut butter and lemon juice until combined. grated carrots, lemon juice, sunflower seeds, raisins, and salt.
  2. Stuff into pita halves or use as a sandwich filling or as an add-on to salad.

This article was written for a PCRM Food for Life Instructors group called So Many Cooks in the Kitchen. This group meets online to provide amazing cooking and nutrition demonstrations that are free to share globally. For wonderful whole food, plant-based cooking shows, tune in to their monthly broadcasts. https://somanycooks.com/about/

Brenda Davis, RD is a plant-based pioneer and author/co-author of 13 books on plant-based diets. She is co-Author of Nourish: the definitive plant-based nutrition guide for families, Becoming Vegan: Comprehensive and Express Editions and Kick Diabetes Essentials.www.brendadavisrd.com