Plant-Powered & Plastic-Free: The Ultimate Summer Picnic
Many people enjoy a summer picnic, but it’s important to keep children and pets safe, and take any litter with you, to avoid birds and wildlife being harmed. A zero waste vegan picnic is free from clingfilm, soggy sandwiches and leftovers that nobody wants.
It’s simply a matter of planning with care, ensuring the goods chosen are going to be eaten, and are easy to carry and keep chilled, for safety. Plan your portions, depending on how many people, and how hungry you expect people will be.
- Keep picnic foods away from dogs (everything is at eye level!) This is especially important if you are eating animal foods like chicken, due to cooked bones (a choking hazard).
- If you smoke, use a personal ashtray (this immediately extinguishes butts until you find a secure bin, to avoid littering and wildfires).
- It’s best to choose a shady spot, for comfort. Also look for parks with tap refill stations (to avoid plastic bottled water) and free loos, to wash your hands.
- Choose reusable lunch boxes to store everything from sandwiches to pots of dip and hummus, and take reusable water bottles to carry drinks.
Before cooking, read up on food safety for people and pets (many foods are unsafe near animal friends). Bin allium scraps (onion, leeks, garlic, shallots, chives) and citrus/tomato/rhubarb scraps, as acids could harm compost creatures. It’s okay to put them in food waste bins (made into biogas).
Ending your zero waste picnic
- Take all rubbish home after wiping clean any spills. Be sure to scan the area for micro-litter, to avoid contaminating local rivers and soil. And to keep wildlife safe from leftovers (salt, fat, stale bread, chocolate etc).
- For tinned foods and sodas/beers, rinse then remove lids (pop ring-pulls over holes). Then use your fingers/thumb to ‘pinch’ inner rims together, to avoid wildlife getting trapped. Then take home for recycling.
Keep food cool and safe
To keep food safe in warm weather, use an insulated food bag for chilled goods, and try to eat them within 2 hours of chilling (or within the hour, in hot weather). Keep all mayo-style dressings separate (even vegan ones), only adding them as you eat.
Tasty vegan picnic recipe ideas
Vegan chickpea ‘tuna’ sandwiches (The Veg Space)
Favour foods that travel well, with ingredients that don’t collapse in the heat, nor make bread go soggy for sandwiches. It’s best to mix salads the morning you travel, and include a few baked treats, made beforehand.
Good choices for picnic meals and snacks include:
- Roasted veg wraps
- Pasta salad with lemon and herbs
- Couscous tabbouleh
- Rice and bean salad
- Baked treats like flapjacks
Drinks for your picnic (water or tea!)
For something special, make southern-style iced tea:
Add 4 plastic-free teabags (decaffeinated for pregnancy/nursing) and optional 1 teaspoon of sugar and a lemon slice to a large jug or pitcher, pour over boiling water and brew for 5 minutes. Bin teabags and lemon (don’t compost either as acids could harm garden creatures), cool to room temperature , then chill in the fridge.
This will keep for a day or two. For picnics, serve from a chilled container over ice. Garnish with optional sprigs of mint.
Choose reusable plastic-free cutlery
This reclaimed wood cutlery set is ideal for camping, picnics, festivals and travel. The set is also dishwasher-safe and composts at end of life.
France banned single-use plastic cutlery years ago, we were very slow to catch up. The ban also applies (with medical exemptions) to plastic straws. But worldwide, plastic cutlery is still used extensively.
Use code JUNGLECUTLERY30 for 30% discount for both sets.
This reusable bamboo cutlery set is sold in an array of pretty colours, packed in a hessian bag, when eating on the go. The set is created by a company that works with Vietnamese farmers and artisans, using sustainable alternatives to plastic, which is devastating the planet.
The set is handmade from organic bamboo, and includes a water-resistant serrated knife, fork and spoon plus a bamboo straw (and coconut cleaning brush).
Why choose reusable cutlery sets?
Not only does plastic waste cause unsightly litter (and is also wasteful and expensive), but when it falls down storm drains, serrated fork prongs and knife edges harm marine creatures.
Plastic cutlery is banned in many countries, including the UK, EU, Canada and parts of Asia, though it’s still not banned nationwide in the USA (though many states have implemented their own bans).
Where to recycled plastic cutlery
Communities or offices can together purchase a one-off Terracycle Party Supplies Recycling Box. Everyone deposits plastic cutlery and other items (sweet wrappers, balloons, plastic straws, plastic flowers/ribbons/bows, tinsel, party hats and costume masks) into a community box.
It’s then all sent off to get recycled into other items. It’s a good way of getting litter out of your local area once and for all, hopefully to never return. When visiting the site, just check your own country (top right-hand corner) to be directed to Terracycle’s recycling boxes where you live.
Choose no-bone vegan china sets!
Mikasa Vegan Bone China™ is the animal-kind alternative to fine bone china, which is made from gelatine, usually from cows or pigs in factory farms. This is made from the same mix of materials and clay, but without bone ash. So it’s kind to animals worldwide!
Replacing bone ash with a combination of natural elements like calcium oxide and phosphoric acid creates tricalcium phosphate, which gives all the properties of china, without bones.
This brand is dishwasher and oven safe up to 400°F. It’s also microwave-safe (never heat baby or pet foods in microwaves).
- Tower Hill Stables and Surge Sanctuary both sell no-bone china mugs, to help pay for food and hay, for their rescued barnyard friends.
- Northumberland artist Alex Clark sells no-bone china mugs, with lovely illustrations. Makes a beautiful gift for anyone who loves animals and drinking tea, at the same time!
