There are many good reasons to have a picnic: family outing, change of scenery, warm summer day, or out and about when it is time to eat.  In order to prevent eating fast food all summer long, I pack a lunch probably 3 times a week. Here are the things that I have learned are handy to have along:

• Old blanket for sitting on.
• Hand sanitizer (because my kids have inevitably been handling frogs)
• Insulated bag or cooler to keep food from going bad in the heat
• Napkins
• Knife for cutting sandwiches and fruit
• Drinks for everyone
• Fruit – dried or fresh
• Crackers or chips
• Sandwiches or other portable, non-messy food
• Some kind of a diversion for early finishers – frisbee, baseball, bubbles