When it comes to dining outside amongst the elements, there is something magical about bringing a basket laden with comforting foods, throwing down a blanket and basking in the sun. It’s a simple pleasure that can be enjoyed anytime of year, with family, little ones or even solo. Even if we can’t go out picnicking together right now, we can picnic in our own back yards! And look forward to plastic free picnicking with our friends soon.

It’s no secret here at Lyttleton that we all love a good feast and what better way to celebrate Plastic Free July than with a plastic free picnic!

Now more than ever, there are so many resources and actions we can embrace to help reduce the use of plastic in our daily lives. To help bring some inspiration, our guide is brimming with useful tips, fresh ideas, delicious recipes and ways to enjoy a plastic free picnic - Lyttleton style.

Wrap it up

It’s time to say goodbye to cling wrap and takeaway containers and make the change to the wonderful world of beeswax wraps. Nina’s Bee’s is a Blue Mountain’s based business that creates a unique range of wraps made from locally sourced beeswax in a range of sizes and designs, available right here in store.

Beeswax wraps can be used to cover anything from sandwiches, shaped to make a box to hold fruit in and as a cover for bottles. They are also good for helping to preserve and store leftover bits of food like half an avocado or mango.

Tea towels and cloths can double up as a way to carry and store your food on a picnic. They are also useful to sit on if you don’t have a blanket and for cleaning.

After all the feasting is done, don’t forget to collect food scraps and waste that can be recycled or added to your composting solution!

Reuse your old glass jars

Picnics are a great opportunity to put those old glass jars to good use. Coming in all shapes and sizes, here are a few ways to incorporate them into your plastic free picnic prep:

Small jars are great for making and storing salad dressings in
You can make a layered salad in a jar ready to go
Jars are ideal for making desserts in, ahead of time. Combinations like fruit salads, mousses and trifles are just a few ideas.
If you are having a large picnic, use your larger jars to hold utensils and cutlery
They are great for making drinks in too, think smoothies, homemade lemonade, iced coffees, or even a cheeky cocktail

Source out bulk foods

Bulk foods are a great way to eliminate plastic waste from your usual food shop. At Lyttleton, we offer a variety of ingredients and produce that can be purchased from our bulk food range. Here are a few ideas of some picnic delights you can whip up using bulk foods.

Chickpeas- Hummus, universally one of the most loved dips is sure to impress any picnic crowd
Nuts, dried fruit,seeds- create your own trail mix blending together all your favourites
Almonds- add a little tamari sauce and bake to make a savoury snack, perfect for road trips
Bliss balls- there are plenty of variations for this healthy sweet treat with most using a mix of chia seeds, dried berries and dates. These sweet delights are easy to make and travel well, making them great as a sweet picnic snack
Seed crackers- what better way to enjoy a slice of cheese than with a crunchy seed cracker made with a variety of seeds like sunflower, sesame, flaxseed and pumpkin.

Purchase plastic free produce

Being aware of how your various produce items are packaged and choosing plastic free options is another way you can help to reduce your plastic waste. In store we offer a selection of plastic free produce like freshly baked bread, jarred preserves and spreads, handmade butter, and of course our abundant range of fresh fruit and veggies.

For something special, why not pre-order one of our grazing platters? Each platter is made uniquely to order and has something to appease all appetites. Crafted with a mix of cured meats, dips, cheeses, the platters can also be customised to cater for vegetarian and gluten-free free dietary requirements.

A recipe for all picnic seasons

To help inspire your next outdoor gourmet adventure, why not try making one of our favourite recipes for a spinach and goats cheese crustless quiche. Simple to create and full of comforting flavours, this can be made ahead and chilled or served hot straight from the oven.

Spinach and Goats Cheese Crustless Quiche

Ingredients:

Good knob of butter
1 small onion
1 leek
2 cloves of garlic
1 bunch of chard or silverbeet - roughly chopped
1 packet of goats cheese (Jannei is great)
Mixed herbs (marjoram and oregano go well in quiche)
6 eggs
1 cup grated cheese
1 cup milk

Method:

Melt butter and add onion, leek and garlic to pan, let cook for 2-4 mins until translucent and cooked through.

Add some more butter then add the chopped spinach and let cook until the spinach is wilted.

Add herbs and leave to cook through.

Whilst it is cooking add 6 eggs to a mixing bowl and whisk well. Add the salt and pepper then the milk and whisk until combined.

Transfer the onion and spinach mix to a butter quiche dish, top with grated cheese, crumbled goats cheese then pour over the egg mixture.

Cook at 180 degrees for 30-35 mins or until the top is golden brown. ENJOY!

This basic quiche recipe is delicious and can be made with any of your leftover veggies, simply sub out the spinach for your leftovers.

Ready, set, picnic!

We hope you’re feeling inspired to host your own plastic free picnic spread. We would love to see how you are all celebrating Plastic Free July so don’t forget to tag us in your picnic spreads photos, even if they are just in the backyard on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Our store is full of radiant fresh produce, an assortment of bulk foods, creamy local cheeses and snazzy beeswax wraps to help make your plastic free picnic some to life.To order a produce box head to our website or give us call to arrange.

How to Create a Plastic Free Picnic