Packing for a waste-free summer picnic is easier than you think. The hardest part may actually be finding a basket or bag that’s big enough to hold all your goodies! We’re sharing small steps you can take to make your next picnic a little easier on the earth.
Eat seasonally
Just as squash is best in the fall, peaches and tomatoes simply taste like summer. Eating according to what’s in season assures you get the best flavor and supports local farmers.
Skip plastic containers
Head to the farmers market before your picnic or pick produce from Imperfect that comes in its own biodegradable “packaging,” like peels and rinds. Remember: Your food doesn’t need to last forever; it just needs to make it to the park, so consider these options.
Fruit infused water
Instead of cans and bottles, pour fruit-infused water into Mason jars
Easy Homemade Beeswax Wraps
Try this fun DIY project for an easy and stylish way to cut down on single-use plastics.
7 Tips for Storing Cheese Properly
Keep your cheddar better with these tips for storing cheese so that it’s picnic-ready when you are.
Upcycle materials to amp up your spread
Everything you need to transport and serve the perfect picnic may already be in your own home.
Give old packaging new life
Wash and reuse takeout containers and use them as tupperware, or upcycle your silver liner and gel pack from your Imperfect order to keep drinks cold.
Not just for cookies
We love using baking trays as charcuterie boards because that little lip on the edge keeps our precious cheeses from rolling off.
Egg-strordinarily resourceful
Rather than throwing away your egg cartons, fill each crevice with snacks and fruits to make a compactable snack bar.
Snacks to stuff into a big old tote bag
Look for these easy-to-pack snacks next time you’re shopping with Imperfect!
Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzel Pieces:
It’s a sweet snack that keeps leftover rainbow When pretzels are coated with chocolate, some of them break and go to waste—but not anymore (thanks to you!). Turns out, those pieces have the ideal salty-sweet ratio.
Organic Chocolatey Banana Nut Trail Mix
Leftover cashew pieces and not-quite-ripe bananas join chunks of chocolate for this organic trek mix.
Garlic and Herb Roasted Cashews
Fair Trade cashews are roasted to golden brown perfection and tossed with organic garlic, then speckled with just about every herb in the garden.
Fruit Strips & Bits
When a fruit gets dried and cut into a fruit bar, perfectly yummy ends, pieces, strips, and strings get left behind. So we gathered them up!
Please any picnicker with these recipes
Upcycled Mocha Chip Brownies
Your coffee grounds have more to offer than you might think. In this recipe for mocha brownies, melting your butter with spent coffee grounds will imbue the butter with a delicious and aromatic coffee flavor.
A Frittata for a lot-a Leftovers
With this Veggie Frittata recipe in your back pocket, you’ll never look at leftovers the same again. An extra onion half and a lumpy tomato are no longer burdens, but an opportunity to make a picnicable frittata.
Waffled PB&J
This fresh take on a classic PB&J will actually make you look forward to using your leftover bread heels.
Happy al fresco season!
You might find these a-peel-ing
Tupperware is a great product, reusable plastic!
Very true! Glass is also a great option for reusable containers!
Hi, which silicone bento box system is pictured in the first photo of this article? Thanks!
Just one we had on hand honestly! But you can definitely find one similar online! 💚