Your Perfect Picnic Planned

‘Tis the season to gather up the outdoor gear and hit your local park for some summer fun. Rather than stocking up on fast food or drippy deli sandwiches and greasy chips, pack the ultimate on-the-go picnic -- affordable, healthy, tasty, and a cinch to clean up. Here are our favorite family-friendly finds...

• Packed To Perfection... Gone are the days of toting stuff around in recycled grocery bags. Crate & Barrel's striped Carnavale tote is so much more stylish! We love the bold stripes and the fact that it sits up on its own rather than slumping over and spilling everything.

• Ready, Set, Sprawl... No picnic is complete without the right blanket to lounge on. If you feel like splurging, invest in a colorful retro throw from Utility Canvas. Or try the funky and affordable Jaja Blanket Tote. For those with a bit of DIY spirit, search online at crafty sites like DesignSponge for ideas on making your own.

• Serve It Up... Pack salads in individual take-out containers, which avoids the need for paper plates and serving bowls. Simply prefill containers and pass them out when it's time to nosh. Be sure to take along a stash of plastic utensils, paper napkins (or cloth for a more elegant and eco-friendly option), and plastic cups.

• A Fast Feast... Eating may be the main attraction, and easy is the name of the game...
  
  Our favorite stress-free menu starts with munchies and finger foods -- grapes and cheese (cut havarti, jarlsberg, and cheddar into cubes beforehand so no cutting is required), nuts (we love almonds toasted in the oven with a sprinkling of tamari, as well as pistachios, sugared pecans, or walnuts), and sliced snacking cucumbers marinated in fresh lime juice and sea salt.
  
  Follow with a veggie or pasta salad -- cucumber & corn with fresh herbs and a light vinaigrette or penne with chopped tomatoes, arugula, and pesto (stay away from mayo dressings that may go bad in the heat). Guests eat right out of their handy takeout containers, so no messy clean-up!
  
  For the youngsters, make sandwiches of almond butter and apricot jam and cut them into fun shapes using cookie cutters.
  
  Finish off with something light and sweet -- like ginger-flavored animal cookies and plump raspberries.
  
  To drink, bottled water and a big jug of lemonade sweetened with agave syrup (pour into a recycled gallon-size milk jug or juice bottle for easy transport).
• Gear & Goodies... Ensure an afternoon of fun (and safety) in the sun by packing a few essentials: sunscreen, hats, and baby wipes for easy hand-washing and clean-up. Take along frisbees, jump ropes, even a checkerboard -- there's nothing like old-school recreation to keep picnickers entertained!

For more tips on living stylishly, check out The Foxy Files and our latest book, Curves Rule And Flat Is Fabulous: Sexy, Stylish Looks For Every Figure.