By Amy Taylor
We could all use a change of scenery these days. Get some fresh air and sunshine with your family by dining al fresco at your local park. Here are 10 quick and easy picnic foods you can whip up for a day trip.
Rainbow kebabs. Cut up colorful fruits and skewer them in rainbow color order for a fresh and healthy dessert. You can top them off with a marshmallow cloud at each end. You could use strawberries, mandarin oranges, pineapple, kiwi, blueberries, and purple grapes, or swap these out for any fruit your kids love.
DIY trail mix. Toss together your kids’ favorite ingredients for a quick snack. You could include granola, cereal, crackers, dried fruit, nuts or any other snacks you have in the pantry. Try a mix of sweet and savory flavors.
Veggie dippers. Chop celery, broccoli and carrots and let your kids choose a few dips. You can mix ranch dressing mix with plain Greek yogurt for a healthy ranch dip. Peanut butter with a touch of honey and a sprinkle of cinnamon is great on celery. Your kids may also love plain or flavored hummus.
Watermelon cookies. Cut a watermelon into ½-inch thick slices and let your kids cut out shapes with cookie cutters. You can eat them plain or make them a dessert by adding chocolate chips or sprinkles on top.
Mason jar yogurt parfaits. Let your kids build their own portable yogurt parfaits in mason jars. Start with your base yogurt flavor. Layer fruits, granola, chocolate chips, toasted coconut or any favorite ingredients. Layer more yogurt and top with something crunchy for delicious treat.
Pinwheels. These finger sandwiches are easy to make and can be customized to everyone’s taste. Start with a flour tortilla. Layer your favorite sandwich spread, meat, cheese, lettuce, roll it up and slice. Secure each slice with a toothpick. You could also make these with peanut butter and jelly if your kids prefer it.
Charcuterie board. Pack all your pre-prepped, kid-friendly snacks and dips, along with a large cutting board and let your kids have fun with the presentation. A few kid-friendly charcuterie board elements are cheeses, pepperoni, deli meat, baby carrots, hummus, grapes, mandarin oranges and more.
Sandwich skewers. Take your basic sandwich ingredients—meats, cheeses, bread—and let your kids have fun cutting them with cookie cutters and skewer them for a cute new way to eat sandwiches.
No-cook s’mores. Spread Nutella and marshmallow fluff on graham crackers for all the fun of s’mores without the campfire.
Fruit salad ice cream cones. Prep a fruit salad and pack ice cream cones. Pack a small jar of heavy whipping cream and confectioners’ sugar for each child. When it’s time for dessert have the kids shake their container vigorously for 2 to 4 minutes for fresh whipped cream. Spoon the fruit into the cone and top with whipped cream.
Where to Picnic
Check out these great local picnic spots! All these parks have picnic shelters and tables, or you can pack a blanket and find a scenic spot to eat.
Fredericksburg
Alum Spring Park
1 Greenbrier Dr.
Fred’bg, VA 22401
Stafford
Widewater State Park
101 Widewater State Park Rd.
Stafford, VA 22554
Spotsylvania
Lake Anna State Park
6800 Lawyers Rd.
Spotsylvania, VA 22551
Caroline
Lowe-Massey Park
16403 Dawn Blvd.
Hanover, VA 23069
King George
Barnesfield Park
3360 Barnesfield Rd.
King George, VA 22485
