National Picnic Week
Packing a picnic basket with homemade treats and heading off to the great outdoors to find the perfect lunch spot, it might sound a bit 1950s but there are few things better than a family picnic.
As the summer months approach it's important to ensure the kids learn to love the freedom of playing outside, rather than just spending hours cooped up inside playing in a digital world. National Picnic Week runs from the 16th to the 22nd June, what better chance to enjoy a great day out?
National Picnic Week runs from the 16th to the 22nd June
Food for thought
It's also a great chance to dust off the recipe books and whip up some delicious picnic food without relying on the pre-packed variety.
Sausage rolls, quiche, sandwiches stuffed with baked ham and of course, picnic eggs - are some of the best types of picnic food. If you're deciding what to take then think about foods you can pick at which won't result in you being a sticky mess all day. Chopped strawberries are great for example, whole peaches, not so much.
It's also a great opportunity to use up leftovers; cold pizza is a wonderful addition to any picnic basket, try some of the great recipes below to spice up yours.
Hot spots
Once the food's prepped and the picnic basket packed, the most important part is figuring out where you and your clan can go in order to enjoy your surroundings just as much as the food.
OK, so the weather may not be 100% reliable but the beauty of the Great British Isles is. Whether it's rolling countryside, lakeside views or beautiful beaches you're after, all you need to do is get in the car and you'll find the picnic spot of your dreams.
Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire comes out on top on the National Picnic Week website in their top 15 picnic spots around the UK. If you've ever been there or seen pictures of it you'll understand why, with golden sand and clear blue water, you'd be forgiven for thinking this was a tropical island not a bay in West Wales.
If Barafundle is a bit far to pop for a spot of alfresco dining, then click on the link below to check out the rest of the top 15 picnic locations.
What to do
If you are going to pack up the car and whisk your family off for an outdoorsy lunch then it's always best to have a plan of activities to keep everyone entertained.
A rounders set, Frisbee or bat and ball will keep them amused for hours, and when we say them we don't just mean the kids, no, an outdoorsy game can turn parents and grandparents alike into the biggest kids. Even if you decide to leave the kids at home it's always fun to embrace your inner child and play some games.
Click below for some ideas on outdoor entertainment.
Get out there
You've got all the ideas and recipes so what are you waiting for? Grab your picnic basket (or one of the many bags for life you probably have in the kitchen cupboard) and get out there.
If you are off on a family adventure then don't forget to take a camera/fully charged smartphone to capture the memories. Picnicking and playing in the sun is definitely worth taking some snaps of, if only to prove sunny days do happen in the UK.