My boyfriend says that I will use any excuse to have a picnic. If I pack a basket for a road trip, or fill a backpack with sandwiches for a hike in the woods, he is game. But when I force him to have wine and cheese at the beach during a windstorm, or concoct one of my famous “carpet picnics” on the living room floor the eye rolling sets in.
The only thing I don’t love about picnics is that waste associated with them: plastic cutlery, paper cups or – gulp – Styrofoam plates are unpalatable to the planet. The good news is that earth-friendly supplies for outdoor dining are available that will makes your outdoor fetes ones that Mother Nature will approve.
I love this super cute Built NY Gourmet Getaway lunch sack, which is great for a picnic or just lunch at the office. The sack is vinyl- and PVC-free and insulates hot or cold food and beverages for up to four hours. Also check out the Wrap-N-Mat Reusable Sandwich Wrap, which is phthalate-, lead- and BPA-free and easy to wipe clean. Including these items in your al fresco dining kit will eliminate the need to toss bags and wraps at the end of your meal. (Both are currently on sale at Nubius Organics, with free shipping until May 15th. Enter code FREESHIP at check out.)
For salads and other goodies on-the-go, I went with the To-Go Ware Utensil Kit, which helps me keep my promise to reduce my ecological footprint without having to eat soup with my fingers. The set comes with a fork, knife, spoon and a set of chopsticks, all in a rollup holder made of recycled plastic bags.
To serve it all up I adore VerTerra, seriously pretty dinnerware and serving dishes made entirely from fallen leaves. The chic plates will dress up your BBQ or picnic and then will compost in your garden in just a couple of weeks.
For a fully eco picnic kit, check out this one from Firebox (above), which includes reusable biodegradable cassava plates, bowls and cups; plus wooden spoons, forks and knives. It also comes with a reusable picnic cloth and retails for under $30.
Show Mother Earth how delicious she is by doing your part to reduce waste. And just think, your picnic will be the best accessorized one on the beach.
Tags: Built NY Gourmet Getaway, compostable, compostable plates, eco, eco picnic, Eco to the People, eco-friendly, green, Nubius Organics, picnic, recycle, reusable, VerTerra, Wrap-N-Mat Reusable Sandwich Wrap