After months of drizzle, the warm weather is finally creeping in and National Picnic Week (21 – 30 June) couldn’t come sooner.
The humble picnic is a staple part of the summer for most Brits, and can be one of the most enjoyable ways to while away the hours soaking up the sun – or crouched under an umbrella! However, for anyone avoiding pork pies and cheese sandwiches, opting for a plant-based diet can leave you munching on crisps and carrot sticks all afternoon.
The Fry Family Food Co. has pulled together a list of essentials for the perfect vegan picnic, from meat-free sausage rolls to recycled cotton picnic blankets, biodegradable cutlery and rounders kits, to help make National Picnic Week a blanket success.
- Pack the essentials
A blanket, basket, crockery and cutlery are staple ingredients for the perfect picnic. Bring some cutlery from home if you can manage, or if you need to buy something more lightweight, try a biodegradable set.
– This recycled picnic blanket is the perfect setting for a vegan feast
– A sturdy wicker picnic basket will hold all the necessities
– Biodegradable crockery and cutlery are extremely durable, and can eventually be composted, reducing waste
- Choose the perfect location
Picnics are a great way to get outdoors, get some fresh air and enjoy nature. If you have time for a bit of a walk there, even better!
The National Trust has a great list of perfect picnic spots across the UK, and you can search by region.
- Preparation is key
The secret to a perfect picnic is preparation. If good weather is predicted for the following day, prep the food the night before so you can put your basket together and get out the door as soon as possible!
Plenty of preparation time also gives you the perfect opportunity to show off your cooking skills – try filling some rainbow vegan wraps with all your favourite vegetables for a quick and easily transportable main course.
Rainbow wraps are perfectly accompanied by Granny Fry’s famous savoury rice, which is delicious served hot or cold.
Why not pack a vegan salad jar full of all your favourite vegetables and top with vegan mayo and Chickpea and Roasted Butternut Balls?
An avocado salad is the sign of a truly posh picnic, and a little preparation beforehand can go a long way. This meat-free prawn, avocado and citrus salad with a home-made vinaigrette would take pride of place at the centre of any vegan picnic.
Accompany some homemade dishes with classic picnic-friendly plant-based favourites such as Fry’s meat-free Sausage Rolls, hummus, pita, crudites, crackers, breads, dips and a colourful salad for a real meat-free feast.
The condiment cupboard is the easiest to forget when packing a picnic, but one of the most vital. A rainbow salad with no dressing, crisps without dip and a sandwich without vegan mayo might leave you pining for your kitchen from the middle of a sun-drenched field miles away. Make sure to pack the essentials, plus anything that will complement your food choices.
4. Much-needed refreshment
A long, hot summer day requires refreshment. Glass bottles and mason jars are a great way of transporting your favourite drinks, and cooling bags will keep them chilled for hours. Opt for homemade lemonade or a thirst-quenching fruit juice, but don’t forget a refillable water bottle to ensure nobody gets dehydrated, especially if drinking alcohol throughout the day.
One of the most surprising discoveries for many vegans is that not all alcohol is vegan – beer and wine can be processed using animal products such as isinglass, egg whites, or gelatine. Unfortunately these ingredients aren’t always listed on the label, but online databases such asBarnivore and the Vegaholic app can help you quickly check if your favourites are on the safe list.
- Outdoor entertainment
No summer day spent in the great outdoors would be complete without an outdoor activity you haven’t played since primary school. Pack a tennis ball, football or rounders kit for a competitive afternoon of games which will keep even the most energetic picnickers entertained.
Fry’s products are available in store and online at Sainsbury’s, in store and online at Morrisons, in store at Holland and Barrett and online at Ocado. Ranges may vary.
For more information about Fry’s, click here.