Zero Waste Vegan Picnics (food without rubbish)
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). Read more on food safety for people and pets.
- 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. And of course choose reusable cutlery, to avoid plastic waste.
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).
- Once home, glass containers should be rinsed (lids can stay on) before recycling cans and foil (remove lids and pop inside, or pop ring-pulls back over holes – pinch top opening closed before recycling, to avoid wildlife getting trapped.
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
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:
- Chickpea salad sandwiches
- 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.
If enjoying a beer, pop ring-pulls over holes before recycling (then pinch the top), to avoid wildlife getting trapped.
