Health + Wellness

Creating a Summer Beach Picnic

Living just a few minutes from the beach, Printfresh founder Amy has found a love for beach picnicking. She has created a list of some of her must-have picnic essentials including eco-friendly items and snack ideas. She even included a tip on repurposing Printfresh PJ bags to make the perfect picnic lunch sack.

By Printfresh Staff

July 2021

There is almost no better way to soak up the summer season than with a wonderful picnic - even better if it’s by the ocean. Living just a few minutes from the beach gives us plenty of opportunities to perfect our beach picnic plans, and I wanted to share some of my favorite items for picnicking with you! A simple picnic is a great way to celebrate someone you love or to make a simple evening meal a little more special. I always opt for reusable items, and especially love if they’re artfully designed.

“I love a small picnic on the beach - everything just tastes better in the salty air and the sunshine.” - Amy Voloshin, Printfresh Founder

What to Pack: Eco-Friendly Picnic Must-Haves

• Do as much food prep ahead of time as you can. Pack everything up in Kids Bento Boxes to keep different foods compartmentalized. These Colorful Printed Beeswax Wraps are an especially fun way to transport your food.

• Bring a Beautiful & Functional Cooler Bag to keep your food and drinks from getting to hot in warm weather.

• Pack a few Reusable Ice Packs or just freeze an old plastic water bottle to keep your food from spoiling.

• Make sure you bring enough water for everyone, especially if it's a hot day. These Reusable Water Bottles from Soma are great plastic free options.

• Invest in a set of Melamine Plates. Not only will it help you reduce waste, but they will make your picnic presentation look great too!
Here is another great list of non-toxic outdoor dinnerware options!

• Bring a blanket that's large enough for you to sit on and put your food on. We love these colorful blankets from Nipomo because they come with their own handle for easy carrying to and from your house.

• If you've purchased pajamas lately, then you probably have a Printfresh tote bag just waiting to be reused. They make great beach bags for keeping everyone’s picnic essentials organized. Not to mention, it may even match your Printfresh PJs turned beach coverup.

What to Eat: Perfect Picnic Foods

Don’t go to the beach hungry! It's difficult to have a full meal at the beach. You will have a lot more fun if you opt for a small meal or snack on the beach rather than trying to plan an all out bbq.

Paninis are the ideal picnic sandwich because you can make them in advance and they hold together better than a regular sandwich. I've talked about how much I love my Panini Press before – we really do use it all the time.

I often make mozzarella, chicken, pesto and sundried tomato paninis for adults and they are delicious! My kids love peanut butter, banana and honey paninis as they are just the right mix of sweet and salty.

Last summer, we spent pretty much every afternoon at the beach, and it was sometimes a struggle to pack food that wouldn't be too messy or create a lot of trash. I learned to pack a variety of snacks – like bars, popcorn or pretzels – in small reusable bags or bento boxes. That what you keep everyone happy and if sand gets in one bag, it doesn’t contaminate the entire meal!

Image Credits: Business & Pleasure Co., West Elm, Nipomo, Food 52

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PF MAG: Founder Amy Voloshin is passionate about creating a space that speaks to our brand, shares unique perspectives from pattern enthusiasts and finds ways to promote more sustainable living. Our blog PF Mag covers creative topics on all things lifestyle - including behind the scenes looks, fashion, design, travel, and home decor, as well as interviews with some of the people who inspire us most.