Picnic of Plenty

Picnics and autumn may seem like an unexpected pairing, but with fall’s produce bounty, crisp air, and flame-hued trees, it only makes sense to bring the harvest outdoors.

Packing a harvest picnic is a uniquely healthy way to experience the season’s best flavours and sites. Eating outdoors means trekking to your picnic locale with family and friends, where you can work up an appetite, take in the natural surroundings, and create new memories to share throughout the years. Fall picnics also trump outdoor summer feasts, as the ants are all but gone. This means no bug spray, citronella candles, or heat-spoiled dishes to disturb the day.

Skipping the plastic cups, plates, and utensils elevates the picnic in a sophisticated and environmentally friendly way. Using BPA-free glass jars is a healthy, inexpensive, and chic way to present the dishes. Eco-friendly reusable utensils made of sustainable materials are now widely available as well. Beyond these perks, the food somehow manages to become more gratifying when a little extra care is put into the transportation vessels.

In-season, local foods are at their nutritional and flavour peaks this time of year. Head to the nearest farmers’ market and load up on nature’s bounty for a delectable movable feast to share with loved ones this season.

Recipes

• Kale Salad with Savoury Cranberry Dressing
• Single-Serving Baked Macaroni and Cheese
• Harvest Squash and Black Bean Quesadillas
• Miniature Apple Crisps in Mason Jars
• Warming Chai-Spiced Apple Cider