One way of having unadulterated fun with your family or friends, or even your colleagues is going on a picnic. You can also go on a romantic picnic with your significant other and have a blast. Planning a picnic, whether it is for two or ten, can be a real entertainer as you try to accommodate everyone’s interests and tastes. It starts getting worrisome and stressful only when you start thinking about the menu. What is something that is easy to cook and nutritious, and will find favor with everyone? Is there anything at all that is going to please everyone? You’ll need a bit more than culinary skills to put together a grand picnic meal. That bit is a way of knowing what people expect, and a little imagination.

You can combine the theme of a picnic and a potluck to minimize the effort each person has to put in. each guest can get one dish. If there is someone who hates cooking, assign the task of bringing coffee and soft drinks to that person. For the rest, read on.

Have a basic round of appetizers. An assortment of dips, like onion dip, hummus, and cream cheese to eat with different kinds of bread is a good idea. Add devilled eggs and stuffed potatoes or tomatoes. Potato chips will be especially loved by the kids. You can also try bringing marinated mushrooms or olives preserved in brine. Bring biscuits for kids who are fussy about their food. Now try and make combinations that work. For instance, you can have pita bread with hummus or French bread with onion dip and ketchup. You can spread the cream cheese on crisp biscuits and top it with olives and a sprinkling of pepper for a savory snack.

You will probably want cold meat for a picnic lunch, whether it is chicken, pork or beef. Cold smoked salmon or canned tuna is not a bad option. Sandwiches are the old fashioned picnickers’ favorite thing. Play around with the fillings. Use egg salad, chicken and lettuce with a helping of mayonnaise, a whole tuna and mustard, or the classic peanut butter and jelly. You don’t go on a picnic everyday, so you might go that extra mile and bake a meat pie for everyone. To round off the meal, include a chicken Caesar salad or a shrimp salad with capsico sauce. For vegetarians, leave out the meat. On the side, have cold potato salad or Cole slaw.

You definitely need a sweet something to eat at the end of lunch. Fresh fruit with canned fresh cream is a healthful option. You can also have a fruit cake, or chocolate chip muffins or cupcakes, or bread pudding in little cups. Don’t forget the drinks. Carry enough lemonade, iced tea, fruit punch, packaged smoothies, juices and coffee for everyone. We don’t have to remind you to carry plenty of water. If it is an adult’s only picnic, indulge in a good wine.