Forest Picnic Shopping List

A forest picnic needs more than sandwiches and a blanket. Shop for food and drinks based on your confirmed guest count, then add the serving equipment, coolers, seating and weather cover needed at the location. Plan cold storage early: drinks, salads and other perishable food may sit in transit before lunch starts. This list also covers practical items people often forget, such as labels, ice packs, lanterns and power banks.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Foldable tablesqty 5
Folding chairsqty 40
Picnic blanketsqty 10
Party tent
Tableclothsqty 5

Tableware

Reusable platesqty 50
Reusable bowlsqty 40
Reusable cupsqty 60
Mugsqty 40
Cutlery setsqty 50
Serving plattersqty 10
Serving tongsqty 6

Kitchen

Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef's knivesqty 3
Bread knivesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Water jugsqty 4
Coolersqty 4
Ice packsqty 16
Food containersqty 12
Aluminum foilqty 2
Cling filmqty 2

Decorations

Table décorqty 5
Buntingqty 3

Lighting

LED lanternsqty 8
Headlampsqty 4

Equipment

Portable speaker
Power banksqty 3

Sports equipment

Frisbeesqty 3
Kubb set
Badminton set
Playing cardsqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Soap dispenserqty 2
Towelsqty 6
Washing-up tubsqty 2
Litter pickerqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Whole wheat casinobread - 6 loaves
- Wraps - 40 pieces
- Butter - 500 grams
- Young cheese - 2,5 kilogram
- Hummus - 1.5 kilograms
- Chicken breast topping - 1.5 kilograms
- Smoked salmon - 750 grams
- Egg salad - 1 kilogram
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Tomatoes - 2 kilograms
- Lettuce - 6 heads
- Bell peppers - 8 pieces
- Red onions - 1 kilogram
- Pasta salad - 4 kilograms
- Potato salad - 3 kilogram
- Feta - 750 gram
- Olives - 1 kilogram
- Grapes - 3 kilograms
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Strawberries - 2 kilograms
- Watermelons - 3 pieces
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Salted breadsticks - 5 bags
- Mixed nuts - 1 kilogram
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Brownies - 40 pieces
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Salt - 1 pack
- Black pepper - 1 jar
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Cola - 6 bottles
- Cola Zero - 6 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Sparkling water - 8 bottles
- Still water - 12 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 30 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 bottles
- Orange juice - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilograms
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 12 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Hand sanitizer - 4 bottles
- Wet wipes - 6 packs

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add water separately for the rest of the picnic. Chill drinks before leaving and pack extra water in jugs rather than relying only on individual bottles.
Use at least one cooler for drinks and one for perishable food when the guest list is large. Add enough ice packs to keep both coolers cold during transport and serving.
Allow one reusable plate, bowl, cup and cutlery set per guest, plus serving platters, tongs and knives for the buffet. Pack a few extra sets for dropped or misplaced items.
Pack salads, fruit, snacks and picnic bread in labelled food containers. Take cling film and aluminum foil so leftovers can be covered immediately instead of being left exposed outdoors.
Check the forecast and site rules before shopping for a party tent, tablecloths, blankets and lighting. Lanterns and headlamps are easy to forget, especially if the picnic may run into the evening.

Frequently asked questions

How much food do I need for a forest picnic?: For a lunch picnic, plan roughly 400 to 600 grams of food per adult, including bread, salads, fruit and snacks. Add 10% extra if guests have not confirmed attendance or if children are included in the final count.
How many drinks should I buy for a forest picnic?: Buy two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then add water for the remaining time. Chill the drinks several hours before departure and use coolers with ice packs to keep them cold.
How many picnic blankets and chairs do I need?: Provide enough blankets for the people who will sit on the ground and one folding chair per guest who needs back support. Confirm the final guest number at least 24 hours before shopping so you can adjust seating and table space.
When should I buy and pack food for a forest picnic?: Buy fresh ingredients one day before the picnic where possible, and prepare salads and bread close to departure. Pack cold food in labelled containers immediately before loading the transport, ideally no more than two hours before serving.

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