One of the things I love most about Summer is spending time outdoors.

Granted, now that we live in Florida, summers will either be spent inside the nice air conditioning or at a local beach. But for the rest of the country, this is the season for backyard grilling, picnics, cookouts, and family reunions.

However, those activities can be a little stressful if we’re not careful in our planning. Things like, forgetting hamburger buns, or failing to notice the lack of public bathrooms, can turn an otherwise fun family outing into “We’ll never do that again.”

The following simple plan of attack will help you avoid these pitfalls, so you can enjoy your summer meals, stress-free!

1. Scope out the site before you visit

Do you need to pay a parking or entrance fee? Are pets allowed? What amenities are available – grill, restrooms, pool, pavilion, etc?

Most of these questions can be answered on the internet from the local town or county affiliated with the park. That means you don’t even need to leave your home to do this part!

Knowing what is offered will help you plan better:

• If there’s an entrance fee, you’ll know you need to bring cash. (I almost never have cash on me, so it’s always good to check!)
• If pets are allowed, Fido can come along without you worrying about getting back home in time to feed him dinner.
• If there’s a grill, you can plan a lot more foodie options, plus you’ll need aluminum foil, charcoal, fluid, a lighter, and access to water to douse the flames.
• If there aren’t any restrooms, be prepared to bring toilet paper, sanitzer for washing hands, and moist wipes to clean up sticky messes.

2. Have a list of meal plans that work

Start thinking of quick and simple dishes that would be perfect for your picnics, then add them to an ongoing list of go-to meals for outdoor eating and grilling.

If there’s a new recipe you want to try, I would suggest you experiment with it before your outing.

Some ideas:

• Meal #1: Subs, wraps, or sandwiches – but fix them before you go for an easy-no grill supper. Some chips and dip for crunchy fun, then end with homemade Chocolaty Oatmeal Chip Cookies.
• Meal #2: Hamburgers and hot dogs. Add pre-washed and cut fruit as a side, and bring s’more fixings for later.
• Meal #3: Grilled chicken with seasonings, potato salad, and brownies for dessert.

Any time you plan a future outing, reference your meal plan, and make a list of ingredients you need to buy. Then go shopping!

3. Use disposables or outdoor specific eatery

Though it’s not environmentally friendly, we use disposables when packing for a picnic. Being able to throw everything out when we’re done is such a time saver! Not to mention I feel free to relax, because I don’t have any dirty dishes to wash later.

If you’d rather not use disposables with your family, I would suggest a place setting that is only used for cookouts. The dollar store always has really cute sets for cheap, and you can store them in a tote bag with your picnic blanket for a grab-and-go option.

Bring a separate bag (plastic, paper, etc.) to store your dirty dishes in until you get home. That way they aren’t getting everything else messy!

4. Don’t sweat what you left behind

No matter how much of a list maker or planner you are, you’re probably going to forget something. Whether it’s the ketchup, the hand sanitizer, or lighter fluid for the grill, things happen. It’s up to you and how you’re going to handle each setback that makes or breaks your outing.

For example, my husband planned a very special lunch for me while we were dating, and thought he had brought everything we needed…..except a spatula to flip the hamburgers……and graham crackers for the s’mores.

But you know what we did? We made it one of our most memorable and best dates.

We found a wire coat hanger in the trunk of the car and bent it into a spatula shape. Then we ate our s’mores with two chocolate squares and a marshmallow in between. We improvised, and we had such a fun time.

So this summer, when you’re caught up in trying to remember it all, remember to enjoy the moment. Those grill-cooking, balmy-breeze, long evenings won’t last forever.