Breakfast picnic shopping list

Planning a breakfast picnic means preparing more than bread and coffee. You need food for different diets, chilled items, hot drinks, serving equipment and a practical way to keep everything covered outdoors. Use your final guest count to calculate quantities, then check what can be reused before shopping. The list below covers the items that are easy to overlook, including coolers, serving trays, tableware and power equipment for the coffee and tea station.

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What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Party tentsqty 2
Foldable tablesqty 6
Folding chairsqty 45
Picnic blanketsqty 10
Buffet tablesqty 3

Tableware

Platesqty 50
Breakfast bowlsqty 50
Mugsqty 50
Glassesqty 50
Knivesqty 50
Forksqty 50
Spoonsqty 50
Serving spoonsqty 12
Butter knivesqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 4
Chef's knifeqty 3
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving trays with lidsqty 6
Bread basketsqty 6
Thermos flasksqty 6
Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 4
Ice packsqty 16

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 6
Buntingqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
Battery lanternsqty 6

Equipment

Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 3

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Washing-up basinsqty 3
Cleaning bucketsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Mopqty 2
Towelsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- White and wholegrain rolls - 60 pieces
- Croissants - 45 pieces
- Butter - 1,5 kilos
- Strawberry jam - 3 jars
- Chocolate sprinkles - 2 packs
- Peanut butter - 2 jars
- Honey - 2 jars
- Cream cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Ham - 1,5 kilo
- Smoked salmon - 1 kilo
- Hummus - 1 kilo
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 3 kilos
- Arugula - 500 grams
- Eggs - 50 pieces
- Whole yogurt - 5 kilos
- Granola - 2 kilos
- Oatmeal - 1 kilo
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 40 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Melons - 4 pieces
- Oranges - 30 pieces
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Coffee - 1.5 kilos
- Tea - 4 boxes
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Orange juice - 12 liters
- Apple juice - 8 liters
- Still mineral water - 24 liters
- Sparkling mineral water - 12 liters
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Herbal tea - 2 boxes
- Cinnamon - 1 jar
- Salt - 1 pack
- Pepper - 1 jar
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Hand soap - 3 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 3 pairs

Tips

Plan about 2–3 breakfast portions per person, including bread, fruit, eggs and toppings. Add 10% extra for popular items such as pastries, spreads and sliced fruit.
Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, including coffee, tea and cold drinks. Chill milk, juice and other refrigerated products before leaving, and bring coolers with ice packs for transport.
Bring one plate, bowl, mug, glass, knife, fork and spoon per guest, plus at least 10% extra. Serving spoons and butter knives are often forgotten because they are not part of a standard place setting.
Prepare at least one serving tray with a lid for each chilled or ready-to-eat food group. This keeps fruit, bread and toppings protected while the buffet is being set up outdoors.
Check the venue’s power and water points before buying or packing coffee machines, kettles, extension cords and power strips. If the coffee station has no reliable power, plan enough thermos flasks for the first serving.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a breakfast picnic?: Plan 2–3 breakfast portions per person, combining bread, fruit, eggs, snacks and toppings. Add roughly 10% extra for the final guest count, especially for bread, pastries and popular spreads.
How many drinks should I buy for a breakfast picnic?: Allow 2–3 drinks per person for the first hour, then add more if the picnic lasts longer or the weather is warm. Include hot drinks as well as chilled drinks, and keep milk and juice refrigerated until serving.
How many plates and cups do I need for a picnic breakfast?: Pack one plate, bowl, mug and glass per guest, plus 10% extra for replacements. Bring serving spoons, butter knives and spare cutlery separately; these are commonly missed when tableware is counted.
When should I buy and prepare food for a breakfast picnic?: Buy chilled products as close to the event as practical, ideally the day before or on the morning itself. Keep them refrigerated until departure, and cut fruit, prepare bread and cool boiled eggs shortly before setting up.

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