Spring is undoubtedly the busiest season for our family, especially when it comes to juggling evening sporting events. With kids spanning different ages and genders, it feels like we’re constantly pulled in multiple directions. One week it might be Monday/Wednesday softball, followed by Tuesday/Thursday soccer, and don’t forget about Saturday tee-ball. Balancing work schedules, school dismissals, game and practice times, homework, dinner, drive time, and bedtime routines can feel like a logistical puzzle with little room for spontaneity. Amidst this whirlwind, finding time to sit down and enjoy a family dinner together becomes a precious challenge that requires planning and coordination. For this reason it helps to have some tried and true picnic dinners that are quick. Here are 6 easy picnic meals. This means on those really busy weeks, we’re not eating sandwiches every night. For an even easier week, make most of these ahead, for the nights you’ll want your food prep done.
1. Classic Sandwich Picnic
Bring on the sandwich! This is probably already a go-to for meal when you are on the go because they are convenient, versatile and nutritious. Regardless, they top the list. Sandwiches are easy to prepare ahead of time, making them ideal for schedules with back-to-back games and practices. They offer endless customization to suit different tastes and dietary needs, ensuring everyone can enjoy their favorite ingredients. And, as the parent, you can prepare options that blend whole grains, proteins, dairy and vegetables to fuel your family. Bring cut up veggies, fruits and chips to round out this classic as one of your picnic meals.
2. Quiche
I knew a woman who’s favorite picnic food was leftover quiche, as you can eat it hot or cold. One of my favorites is Quiche loraine, though a broccoli cheddar quiche tends to be preferred by my kids.
This is a make ahead of time meal. Whether from scratch or from the store, quiche needs time in the oven before serving. Though you don’t need to serve it hot.
Heat store bought quiche to temperature, eat or refrigerate to eat the next day.
3. Salad-in-a-Jar
Salads-in-a-jar offer a convenient way to transport multiple salads without making a mess. They are quick to make in bulk of and ahead of time. The formula is simple: dressing on the bottom, then salad toppings, and topped with lettuce and greens. Shake when you are ready to eat and voila, the perfect tossed salad.
However, in my experience they can be difficult to eat, especially when packed to the brim. Shaking the salad-in-a-jar mixes the dressing does not adequately toss the salad. Just as In the workplace, having a plate to pour your salad onto, is helpful when you’re picnicking. Though if your kids are like my kids, and won’t eat a full jar of lettuce, packing half-full jars makes tossing easier and eliminates the need to bring plates for your on-the-go meal.
4. California Roll in a Bowl (or a jar)
Eating California rolls in a bowl at a picnic is a delightful twist on a sushi classic, offering all the flavors and textures of the beloved roll in a convenient, deconstructed form. This picnic-friendly dish combines sushi rice, crab meat (or imitation crab), avocado, cucumber, and a sprinkle of sesame seeds, all drizzled with a bit of soy sauce and a touch of spicy mayo. It’s a refreshing and satisfying option that’s easy to prepare and transport, allowing you to enjoy the elegance of sushi without the fuss. Perfect for outdoor dining, this bowl is not only delicious but also visually appealing, making your picnic feel like a gourmet experience.
5. Cowboy Caviar
This dish makes everyone happy. It is a perfect on-the-go “meal.” As the Kix saying goes, at least in my family it’s “kid-tested. Parent-approved!” Who doesn’t love a meal that packs your proteins and veggies into one dish and is then complete with carbohydrates in the form of corn chips?
6. Car-ride Charcuterie
Using the term charcuterie broadly, as I don’t stick to the 3-3-3-3 rules of Charcuterie, throw some meats, cheeses, fruits, and veggies in a container and you are good to go. Eat these finger foods in the car or on the side lines.
There is no shortage of travel charcuterie boards or bento box style charcuterie board listings on line if you make this a regular meal, but whatever Tupperware or sandwich bags you have gets this job done. Throw in napkins and you’re done.
Hope these six picnic meals add to your meals-on-the-go repertoire. By incorporating a diverse array of options families can ensure they have nutritious and enjoyable meals that cater to everyone’s tastes and dietary needs. These well-planned picnic meals not only save time but also provide the necessary fuel to keep up with demanding schedules.
Picnic Meals with Grace
When planning picnic meals, it’s important to give yourself a high level of grace and flexibility. Understand that not every meal needs to be perfect or elaborate; the goal is to provide sustenance and enjoyment for your family. Celebrate small wins, such as incorporating healthy ingredients or finding a new family favorite, and don’t stress over occasional shortcuts. Ultimately, the time spent together and the memories made are what matter most.
Picnic Meals with Wit
Why did the tomato turn red at the picnic?
Because it saw the salad dressing
This post is part of a year project understanding AI and chat bots. AI was used to brainstorm, correct grammar, wordsmith, etc. As much as AI was used, human editing and elaborating was needed for when AI didn’t magically put into words what I was thinking for this post. For other posts in this series check out.
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