When considering your options for eating out during the day, why not take a good old traditional picnic, helping keep the costs down and creating a little adventure too. Here’s some of our top tips for picnic-ing more sustainably:

Here are some sustainable picnicking ideas:

Bring reusable plates, cutlery and glasses.

Choose loose fruits and vegetables.

Get your cheese and meat from a fresh counter.

Make your own dips and take them in a reusable plastic box.

Use any leftovers to make compost.

Cook from scratch instead of buying pre-packaged sandwiches and produce.

Instead of individually packed drinks, take your water bottle pre-made with the kids favourite drinks

Opt for less packaging when packing your picnic. Try not to wrap your sandwiches and treats in cling film or foil, use a reusable tub or even beeswax wrap. You can even colour code everybody’s choices as I’m sure there’s always at least one who prefers no Mayo, less butter, or brown bread over white.

If you want to use disposable plates then why not buy paper ones that can be recycled. Always check the labelling as not all are always recycled in some local areas.

Biodegradable, wooden cutlery is readily available and can be bought instead of plastic. Why not Invest in a picnic set. It might be plastic but will last summer after summer, generation after generation.

Invest in a water bottle for each member of your family. Most places will refill these for you with tap water reducing the need to buy disposable bottles when you need to quench your thirst. For those who prefer a brew why not buy a thermos flask or even a mug? If you need a refill ask the café or coffee bar to make your cuppa in your mug.

Reduce waste by buying larger packs. For example, why not buy a sharing bag of crisps as opposed to an individual bag, for the sweet tooth opt for a full cake that can be sliced and shared rather than a pack of individually wrapped pieces and why not choose your fruit individually and leave the multi packs on the shelf?