This UK heatwave couldn’t have come at a better time this week as it coincides with National Picnic week (16th – 25th June). How very British. If you’re staying at home and having a picnic on the garden or out on a balcony, then it makes it much easier to just grab things from inside as and when you need them. But for most of us, a proper picnic is going to be heading out to a park or the woods nearby.

So I thought I would share some tips and tricks for making the picnic run as smoothly as possible. I’m sure there are more ‘Monicas’ out there like me that like to have things ‘just so.’ 😉

Pack with Numbers

One of the first things is to work out how many people are going to be there. Is it just your family or will friends be meeting you when you’re out? Then you can pack the right quantity. You don’t want to have too little when you’re out having a picnic. You don’t need to spend a lot on this kind of thing, though. So look out for mix and match deals, like the three for £5 Deli Range at Tesco. The range has a selection of nibbles which can be served both hot and cold so there should be something for everyone.

Take Cleaning Essentials

When you’re packing up for a picnic, naturally, you just tend to think of the food that you’re planning to take. But you do need a few more things. One of which is baby wipes, even if you’re children don’t normally need them. You never know what a sticky mess they will become when they’re eating a picnic in the sunshine. They can use them to give their hands a wipe before eating too. I also take an old carrier bag to put all the rubbish in. I don’t want to get any open or dirty packets back into my lovely picnic basket!

Freeze Bottles of Water

If you haven’t heard of this little trick, then where have you been? If the picnic is going to be on a particularly warm day, then pop some bottles of water in the freezer the night before. You can pack them in the cool bag to keep the food cool, but they will start to melt and can then be drank, but will still be icy and cold. Perfect, especially if this weather continues!

Plan Games to Play

Half the fun about being outside is to chill and play some games. Who gets up to leave as soon as the food is finished? So make the most of being outdoors by planning some fun games to play. My two just love throwing a frisbee or doing some running races, so it doesn’t have to be anything complex. Why not check out www.tescoliving.com for some inspiration?

Keep Safe

What’s a picnic without a pesky wasp buzzing around, right? Packing a bug spray or insect repellant is a good idea to keep safe. I like to take some lavender essential oil out with me too, as it doubles up as a repellant, as well as something to help soothe any bites if you get them. Avoiding things that are particularly sticky and sweet, like fizzy drinks, can also help a lot too.

Remember Your Shades

While a hat and sunglasses are important, it is a good idea to have another kind of shade too. If there is somewhere to sit under the shade when you’re out and about, then do it. At least try to have the basket in the shade to keep the food cool. A parasol or a large umbrella could act as a good shade for little ones if there aren’t any trees to shade under.

Have you been having any picnics in this glorious weather? We were lucky to be sent some of the new Tesco deli range, and I think they’re be perfect to take on a picnic. The range can all be eaten cold, so no need to cook anything beforehand which is always good in my eyes! The range of cured meats were really tasty, and I liked that the range is a different take on the usual picnic style of foods. Instead of a scotch egg, their similar product was mushrooms and mozzarella in a breadcrumb coating, for instance. It was much nicer to have this kind of thing at a picnic than soggy sandwiches and sausage rolls!

*collaborative post – all opinions are my own.