Picnic-To-Go!
Many years ago my mother gave my young family one of the
most practical, and enjoyed gifts ever. It was a picnic basket filled with all
of the picnic necessities. She took a bushel basket, sprayed it brown, drilled
holes on two sides and added some rope handles. She sewed a liner with pockets
and placed it in the basket. Then she sewed a cover to go over the top. The
cover even had dingle-balls sewn around the edges. :)
In it was:
Inexpensive utensils (in a bag with a draw-string)
Napkins
Salt & Pepper Shakers
Can Opener
Bottle Opener
Paper Plates
Paper Cups
Plastic Tablecloth
Matches
Sharp Knife
Bandages
Sunblock
Insect Repellent
It had everything except the food! So all we had to do when the picnic urge hit
us was grab the basket and food, and the kids, and we had our Picnic-To-Go.
Mom spent a lot of time putting the picnic basket together. Time these days is
a big deal! And there are easier options.
You can buy a traditional picnic basket, already loaded, and generally pay a
lot of money. Or you could be very practically and buy a clear storage bin with
a lid to hold your supplies. Line it with your plastic tablecloth (red and
white check is traditional). Keep plastic utensils in a zipper storage bag.
Keep the plates and cups in a bag and the matches and can/bottle openers in
another. You get the idea…
Eating better is not an all-or-nothing choice; every little improvement you make in your food helps.
Recent surveys show that few adults and even fewer children are eating enough whole grain foods. Whole grains are an important source of dietary fiber and other nutrients. 
Choosing whole grain products can be very confusing. I found several websites with helpful information which are listed below.
So let's start today; print and post this list from the Whole Grains Council of "baby-steps" on your fridge, and try as many as possible this month:
1. Try different loaves of whole-grain bread to see which one you like best.
2. Serve bulgur or brown rice instead of potatoes with dinner one night this month.
3. Look for the Whole Grain Stamp when you shop.
4. Try a new breakfast cereal with at least 16 grams of whole grain per serving.
5. Purchase whole-wheat pasta and try it.
6. Visit the health food store or a major grocery and look at all the different grains in bins.
7. Make pizza for the kids with whole wheat pita as the crust.
8. Make your favorite cookies using whole wheat flour instead of white flour.
9. Serve hamburgers on whole wheat buns.
Read more:
The Food Network
Whole Grains Council
American Dietetic Association - EatRight.org
Wikipedia
Mayo Clinic
