With Summer just around the corner (finally!), it’s the perfect time to start dreaming up those long, sunny days outdoors with the family. My kids absolutely love eating outside: sun in the face, a light breeze in the air and mixing play and eating at the same time. But let’s be honest: planning a family picnic can feel like a juggling act between making food everyone enjoys, remembering all the little things, and not overpacking.
That’s why we’re here to help you make your next picnic easy to pack, easy to eat, and fun for the whole family. Whether you’re heading to Crane Beach or Walden Pond, or even just your local playground, here’s how to do it right!
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Keep it Simple & Handheld
When it comes to picnic food, you want to keep it handheld, fuss-free with minimal clean-up. You want items that travel well and don’t require much assembly once you’re on the blanket.
Start with a few kid-friendly sandwiches: think ham & cheese baguette or pre-making a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Most kids will devour these with no utensils required! I recommend cutting them in half ahead of time. That way, kids can eat some of their lunch and keep playing without having to find somewhere to put down their half-eaten sandwich.
Of course we always bring a few packs of chips or crackers. We stick to smaller formats for the family to share. It means we can bring more variety but avoid over-packing and bringing lots of half-eaten bags home with us!
We never seem to have enough drinks when we go out for family picnics so make sure you pack extra fluids for everyone! The number one rule in our books: opt for reusable water bottles or cans instead of glass to keep your cooler bag or picnic basket light. I also recommend looking for smaller-sized drinks so that you’re not left with a dozen half-drunk cans of seltzer at the end of the day.
For example, we’re big fans of the Lovely Bunch Apple Juice. It’s made from New England apples and the cans are only 8oz. We’ve found them to be the perfect size for our kids to quench their thirst without leaving a half-open can or over-doing it on the sugar.
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Add Freshness with Local Fruits & Veggies
To balance the richness of your spread, pack some ready-to-eat, bite-sized produce. It’s the summer so you have so many options to choose from! Our kids love cherry tomatoes, muscat grapes and locally-grown strawberries. I’m a big fan of these options as I don’t need to slice anything ahead of time, which is a major win!
That said, if your kids are naturally messy or really little, you may want to skip the fresh fruit and opt for freeze dried fruits or fruit bites. That way, you can enjoy some healthy snacks without having to deal with the messy laundry once home.
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Don’t Forget the Grown-Ups
For a long time, we were so focused on packing for the kids that we let our own preferences fall to the wayside. Picnic food was just a method of sustenance and we’d eat the same peanut butter sandwiches as our kids. Don’t get me wrong, a good PB&J is delicious… but picnics should feel indulgent for the parents too!
Our go-to now is to either pick up a couple of freshly-made sandwiches on our way out or we treat ourselves to a cheese & charcuterie spread. If we’re feeling easy-going, we’ll opt for a ready-to-go cheese & charcuterie box for two with some baguette or crackers. That way, someone else has done all the hard work of cutting up the cheese and charcuterie and I can just enjoy the spread!
Sometimes we’re a bigger group or we’re in the mood for special items from the cheese & charcuterie counter and we’ll go the extra mile to pack a cutting board and a knife. Your cheesemonger can help advise on a good selection of products that will hold up well in a picnic bag or in the hot weather…. And of course you get to taste everything before you buy it. Yum!
Depending on the time of day, we enjoy pairing our own food with a variety of options. If it’s the middle of the day, we’ll stick to a probiotic soda like Culture Pop or a lemonade. If it’s an afternoon picnic, we’ve definitely indulged in a little wine or non-alcoholic pre-made cocktails. We’ve found Pizza Wine to be the perfect wine to accompany our spread: it’s light and fruity and packed in a can so it won’t weigh you down. Our go-to non-alcoholic cocktail are the St. Agrestis Falso Amaro and Phony Negroni. It turns a special meal into something more special without worrying about the drive home.
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End with a Sweet Finish
It’s not a real picnic without something sweet to finish the day out together. A few cookies or a pack of biscuits tucked in your basket makes for the perfect treat. Choose options that travel well and don’t melt: freshly-baked chocolate chip cookies, chouquettes or a pack of biscuits. They’re bite-size, easy to share and there’s minimal clean-up.
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Pack Light but Smart
It’s taken a few years to really perfect the packing list but I cannot overstate the importance of being practical and methodical. It’ll also avoid you bringing the whole kitchen! Focus on the essentials:
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A go-to picnic basket and / or cooler bag
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A lightweight blanket to sit on
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Paper cups and plates
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Compostable utensils
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Napkins and / or wet wipes
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…and of course, a trash bag for easy clean-up!
(Selection of paper plates, napkins and paper cups)
When you’re packing, separate food from drinks and try to place the heavier items and the items you’ll need last at the bottom. We tend to keep dessert tucked away so that the kids focus on their main meals first.
The goal? As little unpacking and repacking as possible, so you can focus on what matters most: enjoying great food and making memories with your loved ones.
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Let Nouvelle Maison do the Packing
Want to skip the prep entirely? We’ve put together family picnic baskets featuring sandwiches for the little ones, cheese & charcuterie for the adults, fresh produce, and even optional wine or mocktails. All packed in a beautiful, reusable basket with everything you need for the perfect outing.
Whether you’re planning a sunny weekend lunch or an after-school park date, our picnic baskets take the guesswork (and grocery list!) out of the equation.
At the end of the day, the perfect family picnic isn’t about having the fanciest setup. It’s about enjoying simple, delicious food and quality time together. With just a little planning (and maybe a little help from us, you can make your next picnic effortless, enjoyable and absolutely delicious.
Ready to pack the perfect picnic? Stop by the store or call to pre-order your picnic basket. We’ll take care of the rest!
Visit Nouvelle Maison at 30 Church St, Winchester, MA and step into a French-inspired escape! From curated groceries and fine wines to artisanal cheeses and charming cultural events—Nouvelle Maison is your local taste of Paris. 🇫🇷
