How to Have an Indoor Picnic

Don't forget your cart

Even though you'll be dining indoors, you'll still need a picnic bag or traditional picnic basket to hold all your essentials in a corner of the room. This not only creates the right atmosphere but also keeps everything in one place. Pack your striped or checkered tablecloths and blankets for a classic American picnic.

Salad in a jar

Add vegetables to your family menu with this pre-assembled salad. To prevent greens from getting soggy, pour the dressing into the jar first, add a layer of firm vegetables, fruits, or grains, and then add the greens and other soft-textured ingredients. The layers look beautiful, and each jar is easy to assemble to your liking and store in the refrigerator until picnic time. Let the kids assemble their own salad jar—they'll be more likely to eat the vegetables if they've helped prepare them.

Deviled eggs

This is the ultimate picnic appetizer. Cutting a small piece off the bottom of each egg makes them easier to carry than regular egg halves, and it looks pretty, too.

Iced tea in self-service containers

Forget pitchers: they're easy to knock over and awkward for children to use. For a group, choose a large container with a spigot. Serve fresh herbs or peaches as attractive garnishes.

Baked chicken

If your family loves traditional fried chicken, try this healthier twist. Oven-baked chicken is just as delicious and crispy, but less greasy. And since it's baked rather than fried on the stove (which requires constant supervision), you'll have more time to prepare dinner.

Recipe: Chicken in egg and breadcrumbs

Potato salad

Ask your little helpers to peel the potatoes for this salad. The cold, creamy salad contrasts perfectly with the crispy, hot chicken straight from the oven.

Recipe: Red potato salad

Fruits in paper bags

No picnic would be complete without seasonal fruit! Take regular paper bags and cut out patterns on the tops to make the contents easier to see. Fill them with colorful cherries or stone fruits and place them around the room—a healthy dessert that's easy for kids to grab.