This article was first published in 2013 and edited and updated in January 2021
We live in a big city and we often are going on day trips out of the city. – Cross country skiing, skiing, winter hiking and skating. When our kids were little, we enjoyed many outdoor picnics in our outdoor playgroup or at the local ice rink. Many of our most memorable picnics have been alfresco, in the snow.
In our outdoor playgroups, the snacks and picnics are a very important part of the gathering. Bringing some good food and some hot chocolate is an important treat after your explorers have a little hike or are just out for some good old fashion outdoor play. Having a thermos picnic in winter is great way to keep your food warm during cold temperatures and easy way of bringing food in a backpack on adventures.
Thermos picnic
You can use different kind of thermoses for thermos picnics. Even thermoses for hot drinks will work. We often use our kids’ school lunch thermoses for our winter picnics.
Hot dogs in thermos
One very simple and popular picnic idea is to serve hotdogs kept hot in a thermos. You can serve a crowd and it does not take a lot of space in your backpack.
You need:
Hotdogs
Water
Thermos
This is how you do it:
Bring water up to boil, put hotdogs in the water. Simmer for 5 minutes. Pour the hot water into the thermos with your hotdogs. Make sure to close the thermos and it will keep your hotdogs hot for hours. Bring your favorite hotdog bun and condiments with you on your outdoor adventure. I find skinny tongs make it easier to get your hotdogs out of the thermos.
Hot stews or pasta thermos lunches
Soups, chili, hot stew different kind of pasta dishes all taste good as a thermos picnic. With some fresh French bread and the winter picnic is complete. Nothing taste so good as your favorite stew or pasta dish out on the trail. In our family homemade chicken stew and spaghetti Bolognese have been popular on our outdoor adventures.
Fish Fingers in a thermos
When my kids were little they used to love fish fingers so we brought it with in thermos lunches. You need
Fish fingers
Aluminum foil
Thermos
Bake fish sticks according to the recipe to your favorites brand. Wrap each fish stick individually with alminium foil and put each fish stick in a thermos.
