If you want to plan the perfect picnic, you need to think ahead of time. Knowing what to pack is half the battle won. Here’s what you should always include in that basket in order to ensure that your picnic is a delicious success.

Two by two

You should bring at least two of everything. This goes for fruit, vegetables, cheese and meats. You should even include two types of crackers or breads and it doesn’t hurt to include at least two types of nuts too. While the perfect picnic requires at least two of everything, it does not mean that you cannot add more. If you like, you can add three or four types of cheese and several types of meat. It mostly depends on the time of day you are planning on going out and how long you wish to spend outdoors. You can also pack some delicious dips to bring it all together.

Kitchen basics

The perfect picnic will be difficult to enjoy if you don’t have the right tools. You should have a small cutting board with a knife, a wine bottle opener, spoons for your dips, spreading knives, a lighter for candles if you are using them ( you could opt for LED candles if you are worried about the wind), plates and glasses. Remember, if you want to jazz it up, you should opt for real plates and glasses rather than paper or plastic.

Comfort

This is especially important to think about if you are planning on spending several hours enjoying your perfect picnic. You want to make sure that you and your guest are as comfortable as possible. So, make sure to pack a comfy blanket with an underlay just in case the grass is damp. Pack some cushions and an extra blanket or two in case it gets chilly. It doesn’t hurt to pack an umbrella and some extra clothing too.

Entertainment

While sitting and staring at nature is lovely, you might want to do something more to pass the time together. Consider taking along a board game or a deck of cards to keep yourselves from checking your phones. If you like, you can put on some soft music or simply enjoy the sounds of nature all around you.

With all of these tips in mind, you can’t go wrong! Of course, before venturing out to enjoy that perfect picnic, you should take a moment to check the weather forecast! Even though it looks perfectly sunny when you are about to leave, the weather can change in a heartbeat. Of course, if this happens, you can always retreat to your vehicle and enjoy your meal without getting wet or cold.