Bring your family and friends together with these simple backyard summer picnic ideas.
Summer is by far my favorite time of the year. Even though it gets very hot by the end of the season where we live, I still look forward to the warmer months. I love the long days that give my family more time to spend together. One of my favorite parts of this time of year is being able to enjoy our family meals outdoors.
I believe it’s so important for families to eat meals together… especially with little ones! Although the typical mealtime with children will include a lot of disruptions and chatter, it is always a great time for us to pause life and be together. We spend this time talking about our day, what the kids learned or what is coming up for the rest of the week.
Life can get crazy and there is a temptation to set the kids in front of a television. But, instead of turning to the television… open the back door! Turning your meal into a picnic is a great way to bring the family together in a new and much more productive way. Picnics make the meal so much more exciting for your kids and requires little effort on your part! Here are a few backyard summer picnic ideas to help your family have a successful meal outside.
Summer Picnic Ideas
Simple Picnic Food
Picnics are meant to be easy, so don’t stress over elaborate food! Here is are a few simple picnic food ideas:
- Fruit skewers – Buy a pre-cut bowl of fruit from the grocery store and put them on skewers. This makes it easy for each person to grab his or her own serving.
- Chips and salsa – Truly, nothing is easier than chips and salsa. If you’re taking your picnic further than your back yard, pack the salsa in a mason jar to keep things tidy.
- Cut veggies and hummus – I love the snack sized hummus packages for on the go. Place the veggies in a plastic cup so they are easy to grab.
- Fried chicken tenders – Find a local grocery store that has great fried chicken (for me, it’s Publix) and pick up some chicken tenders. The whole family loves these and tenders are great because they’re boneless.
- Hand pies – If you want to go the extra mile, make a few simple fruit hand pies. These only took me about 30 minutes total with pre-made dough. If you don’t have time to bake, grab some cookies or brownies at the bakery!
Disposable Plates
You’ll notice all the foods listed above are picnic finger foods, so you may be able to get away without plates if you’re taking your picnic further than the backyard. But for in the yard with little ones, it’s fun to use some printed paper plates and napkins. I love these watermelon plates and gingham ones. This makes clean up simple so you can keep enjoying family time!
Use What You Have
I think a lot of times we see pictures on Pinterest and think we have to go out and buy a lot of “gear” to make an event special (even a family one). Look around in your kitchen. You probably already have some fun serving trays and bowls that you use for meals with guests. Find a cozy blanket in the closet. Don’t have a picnic basket? Grab a cooler or reusable grocery bag!
Your set up can be as simple or elaborate as you would like, but don’t let that distract you from the goal- to spend quality time with friends and family.
Have fun!
The great thing about the longer days of summer is the extra time spent outside having fun! Here are few extra activities that are great to do in your backyard after enjoying a summer picnic.
- Light a fire pit and roast marshmallows – We have the Bonfire Solo Stove and love it all year! If you want something smaller, the Mesa is also a great option.
- Outdoor games – Footballs, soccer balls, corn hole, and my kids’ current favorite, a stomp rocket.
- Outdoor movie with projector – This is a huge hit for our family! We love doing outdoor movie nights with our projector. We purchased this screen that is very easy to set up.
