Picnics are synonymous with summer. Any occasion can be celebrated by having a picnic: family gatherings, get-together with friends, the annual company picnic, or a romantic outing with your loved one. The combination of great food and outdoor activities can’t be beat. And if there’s a special occasion involved, a picnic gift basket is the ideal present for anyone who enjoys a meal out in the summer sunshine.

Not only is a picnic gift basket a fun and unusual present, but it’s also quite handy. Chances are you’ll want one for yourself.

To start, you’ll need a big picnic basket, or any other large container that’s easy to carry. Get one of those red checkered plastic tablecloths and line the basket with it. Buy some packages of plastic tableware, including knives, forks and spoons. Try to get them in bright colors. You’ll also need paper plates and napkins; look for something decorated with a summery theme.

Include some non-perishable, traditional picnic foods. Sweet snacks like marshmallows for roasting along with crunchy foods like potato chips and pickles are ideal. Add some plastic bottles of condiments like barbecue sauce, mustard and catsup, and throw in some salt and pepper shakers and sugar packets. A book of matches is always a practical addition. Wet wipes and a trash bag for clean-up are a great finishing touch.

Add some fun to your picnic gift basket with some plastic or candy ants and bugs, and scatter them throughout the basket.

Another good addition is a checklist of things you would typically bring to a picnic. This can include edibles such as burgers and hot dogs, buns, drinks, snacks and side dishes. You can also include on your list some other essentials like lawn chairs, games, and blankets. Create the checklist in a word processing program and decorate with some picnic themed clipart. Print out several copies and tuck them into the gift basket.

There’s so much you’ll want to include in your picnic gift basket, but avoid going to extremes. If the basket is jam-packed, you’ll find that it’s too heavy to transport without difficulty from the car to the picnic area. Of course, you could make up two baskets instead of one. One can contain the plastic and paper items, and the other could be loaded up with the food products.

So if you know someone whose summer plans include lots of picnics, this could be the perfect gift. It’s a great way to let them have picnic essentials ready to go anytime, and will keep them from forgetting any of the necessary ingredients of a great summer picnic. It’s such a good idea, you’ll probably want one yourself. So get packing!