Imagine lying on a grassy lawn in the afternoon, right before the sunset, reading a book with the sound of nature as your background noise. You’re accompanied by an array of foods, snacks, beverages, and your favorite people. Sounds peaceful, right? Picnics are a different approach to soaking up and enjoying the summer sun. What makes them even more enjoyable is the tasty snacks you’ve packed. It can be challenging to decide which meals to pack when there are so many to choose from. To help narrow down your picnic meals list, we’ve rounded up just a few classic picnic meals to add to your food spread.

5 Meals to Pack on Your Picnic Date

Charcuterie Board

Most people look at charcuterie boards and instantly get intimidated by the visual appeal of food and how well they are assembled. So much so that they avoid creating their own, but this popular communal board doesn’t have to be complicated. Since it acts as an appetizer, the key ingredients aren’t heavy foods. They’re typically choices of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, nuts, and more.

This dish saves time and allows you to flex your creative skills. Once you have all of the desired food items, rearrange them until you like what you see. Dig in when it’s ready to be served.

Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is another dish that you can customize to your liking. The basic ingredients include pasta, chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, shredded cheese, and your choice of protein (optional), all topped with Italian dressing. For an extra savory taste, add pepperonis. Blend all ingredients together and let them marinate. Then, serve it up when you’re ready. The filling dish will have you going back for seconds.

Classic Sandwich

You can never go wrong with a classic sandwich; the great thing is there are so many types to choose from. Be sure to prepare your sandwiches the night before or the morning of. This will save time while you’re relaxing under the sun and is a nice grab-and-go snack when you need one. The options are endless from egg sandwiches and club sandwiches to peanut butter and jelly.

Fruit Salad

Satisfy your sweet tooth with a fruit salad. Cut up and combine all of your favorite fruits into one bowl, blending the sweet flavors together. Add honey to take the flavor to the next level. There’s no right or wrong way to make this, so include what you want.

While this dish is fairly easy, it can go wrong depending on the fruit you choose and how far in advance you make it. The last thing you want is soggy fruit ruining dessert time. Additionally, opt for fresh fruit and keep it refrigerated until it’s ready to be served.

Deviled Eggs

Deviled eggs are a classic dish that should be in your picnic basket. They’re easy to make, and everyone loves them. All you will need is a few simple ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen: hard-boiled eggs, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, sweet relish, salt, and pepper. If you’d like, add some paprika and any other seasonings to boost the flavor.

Other Items to Elevate Your Picnic Experience

Food is an important aspect of picnics, but there are a few other things you can pack in your basket to elevate your experience and heighten the romance or group date.

Wine

Bring a bottle of wine and enough wine glasses to pair with your tasty meals. Whether white or red wine, you can cheer on your favorite moments of the day and celebrate any special occasion.

Games

Bring on the fun and competition with games! Draw 4 with Uno, build with Jenga, or opt for your favorite board games to really spruce up the relaxing vibes. Games are perfect for breaking the ice and showing off your skills.

Painting

If games aren’t your speed, slow it down with painting. Pack canvases, paint brushes, and paint to wind down the night and flaunt your artistic skills. If you’re on a date with your significant other, try the trending ‘paint your partner’ challenge and laugh the night away. Painting is a romantic way to connect while watching the sunset and set the mood.