One thing children love is when you announce that a day out is imminent and a picnic hamper or coolbag is needed. They shout 'Hooray', grab the football, Frisbee and sun hat, and head for the door. But wait - first you need to plan for a menu on the move.
There are so many options today, but keeping the food choices healthy is not always easy. I know that crisps, biscuits and sweet snacks are likely to be the most popular with children, but when you're at the shop, how about coming out with something less sugary, salty or fatty that keen appetites will still get excited about? The healthier options can be just as easy to carry around.
FINGER FOOD
Raw vegetables: Carrots, cucumber, celery, baby corn, sweet peppers with lots of different colours, cherry tomatoes, radishes, baby spinach, and small lettuce leaves such as little gems, rocket or lambs lettuce, all make great finger food.
To keep the vegetables crisp and hydrated, it's a good idea to put them in a waterproof plastic bag with a few ice cubes. The ice will melt slowly and keep the vegetables cool, fresh and tasty.
Cooked vegetables: For a change from raw, why not try cooking some vegetables, but keep them al dente (crunchy). Plenty of children love snacking on a variety such as carrots, cauliflower, French beans, mangetout or sugar snaps.
Fresh fruits and dried fruit: There are so many different fruits and berries around during the summer months, we are spoiled for choice. For the fruit to be at its best and really juicy, keep it at room temperature and avoid bruising it. The best fruits, in my opinion, are the ones that you can wash, dry and just pop into your month when you feel like a snack.
Dried fruits are also very useful as a snack on the go, especially if the weather is really hot. They are sweeter than fresh fruit, but of course healthier than crisps and sweets.
Bread and carbohydrates: Again, there is an enormous range of breads on the market these days; the hardest thing may be choosing which one is most appropriate for the occasion. It will also depend on what you want to do with the bread - make sandwiches, wraps, pitta pockets or slices of French stick. Some breads lend themselves to just being eaten as they are, or dunking into a flavoursome dip. Recently I was pleased to see my own children enjoying some naan bread and poppadoms.
Breadsticks are a good choice for car and public transport journeys. Cheese biscuits and crackers are also very handy - the only drawback with any of these is the mess they make.
Pasta is a great picnic dish as well as a snack, hot or cold. Cook some pasta shells or penne, pop it in a plastic sandwich box, and the children will enjoy it with or without a sauce.
Dips and sandwich fillers: You may wonder, what can you put in that won't go off on a hot summer day? That rules out meat, although mashed avocado and bacon makes a delicious wrap. Cream cheese and cucumber mixed together also provides a nice change. Then there's always good old peanut butter, Marmite or Vegemite. The sticky options such as jam and honey are also quite weatherprooof, but I think it is better to avoid them on picnics, especially as they attract wasps and bees.
What shall we drink?
Of course, the best thing to drink is water, but there are lots of real fruit juices with little or no added sugar on the market. If you chill them well and keep them in a coolbox they are always refreshing. I often buy the small, natural bottled water and put the bottles into the deep freeze overnight. Then just before we set off on our journey I put them into the chill box. This way they do double duty, as they provide a great way to keep all the other food chilled and fresh too.
Naughty sweet moment When it is hot and sunny there is nothing better than an ice cream, and wherever children are, there is usually a van around to oblige.
However, if time allows, it is great to make your own ice cream or lollies.
This way, you know what is in it, and the children can choose their favourite flavour without arguing over the relative size or price.
There are some very simple ice lolly makers on the market. Another fun idea is to buy small pots of fromage frais and some wooden lolly sticks. Pierce a small hole in the lid of each pot the same size as the stick, push the stick to the bottom, and place in the deep freeze to set.
I hope this gives you some ideas for scrumptious snacks that children and adults alike will enjoy. Remember, the less fat, sugar and additives that you feed children, the less chance of hyperactive behaviour! Summer is already lively enough.
Fiona Hamilton-Fairley is the principal of the Kids' Cookery School in London W3
