Plan a picnic

With two bank holidays ahead of us this month, here are my top tips for eating outside this summer

Ditch the paper plates

Paper plates go soggy as soon as your salad dressing hits them. Instead, I have a collection of enamel plates and cups that I use for picnics and camping. They’re cheap and will last much longer.

Reduce plastic waste

Picnics can leave a trail of single-use plastic behind them. To cut down on cling film and plastic containers (which most picnic food comes in), pack your own sandwiches, salads and snacks into reusable containers. I like wax paper wraps, and jam jars for

salads and dips.

Chill out

Instead of using ice packs to keep the picnic food cool, I half-fill a bottle with water or juice and lay it on its side in the freezer (add slices of lemon or orange or some mint leaves, if you like). Once frozen, I fill the rest of the bottle ready to pack. I find this method much better than freezing the whole bottle, as it can take a long time to defrost.

Don’t forget…

a blanket biodegradable wet wipes or a damp cloth for sticky fingers rubbish bag sunscreen, sun hats and glasses bug spray and sting relief spray plates, cups and cutlery