A Plastic Free Picnic with BRITA

Morning, campers! Did you know that July is National Picnic Month?

I’ve been getting out and about a lot this summer; mainly outdoorsy trips to Snowdonia and The Peak District. I see so many people enjoying themselves outdoors, taking in the breathtaking surroundings of this stunning country we live in.

But, it seems that eating outdoors is synonymous with littering in so many places! Plastic bottles, single-use plastic bags, films from packaged sandwiches and crisp packets all make their way into our stunning landscapes. Which really is so sad to see!

So it’s interesting that whilst July is National Picnic Month – it’s also Plastic Free July. Coincidence? Maybe the plastic-free peeps did consider that, as picnic season is one of the worst times of the year for unwanted, single-use plastic making its way into our parks, playing fields and local communities.

Also Read: Taking Part in Plastic Free July Last Year

So when BRITA got in touch challenging Sophie’s Scran to come up with an at-home picnic spread that avoids single-use plastic, I was more than up for it.

A Plastic Free Picnic with BRITA Infused Waters

When picnicking at home I found I bought less prepackaged items, avoided plastic water bottles all together and saw a big reduction in unnecessary waste. A few items I bought came in plastic (such as the walnuts for the dip!) but as I was at home I was able to make sure the packet was recycled properly. So many local parks don’t have proper recycling facilities!

The best thing about this picnic spread is that we enjoyed things like freshly fried halloumi cheese (nobody likes cold, hard halloumi) and warm pita bread, straight from the toaster!

So if you’re looking for some picnic ideas for the rest of the summer – look no further than your back garden and make the most of the space you have, enjoying a plastic-free feast!

The Ultimate Plastic Free Picnic with BRITA Filtered Water

At home, you can enjoy your picnic with fresh, filtered water straight from the fridge without having to fork out for the bottled stuff.

I drink a lot of water and I’ve used a BRITA filter since moving into my own place, and it’s honestly so much better than tap water.

It’s clear that BRITA water is also a more sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. The carbon footprint of one litre of BRITA filtered water is up to 27x smaller than that of bottled water. Whilst still tasting fresh, clean and amazing just like bottled mineral water. So the flavours you infuse with it, whether that’s tea, coffee, fruits or cordial their true flavours shine through without any yucky distractions like limescale, chlorine and heavy metals.

You can pick up the BRITA Style Jug featured in this post for £31 and the Maxtra+ filters are £17.25 for a pack of three which last for ages!

What to Drink: Summer Fruits infused BRITA filtered waters

• Peach and Mint with Apple
• Pineapple and Lime
• Cucumber and Grapefruit

I love water, but it really can get boring. Here’s how to pimp it up a little:

For the peach and mint infused water puree one whole peach in a blender with a splash of BRITA water. Heat up a small saucepan on the hob and add 50ml BRITA water, 1 dessert spoon of demerara sugar and heat on low until the sugar dissolves. Combine the sugar mixture with the peach puree and stir well. Add to 500ml BRITA water with a handful of mint leaves and allow to chill in the fridge. Serve over ice and garnish with extra mint and sliced apple.

For the pineapple and lime infused water simply chop 1/3 of a fresh pineapple and add to 500ml of BRITA filtered water along with the juice of two fresh limes. Leave in the fridge to infuse for about an hour. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh pineapple and slices of lime.

For the cucumber and grapefruit water take one cucumber and using a peeler, thinly slice lengthways to produce 3-4 long cucumber garnishes. Chop the rest of the cucumber and add to 500ml BRITA filtered water. Cut a pink grapefruit in half. Juice one half and add the juice to the cucumber water. Chop the remaining grapefruit and add to the water, reserving some to garnish. Allow to infuse for 1 hour. Serve over ice with the reserved cucumber garnish!

What to Eat: A Mezze-style feast to share

• Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip with Feta Salad (click for full recipes)
• Halloumi cheese lightly fried in rapeseed oil with lemon rind and fresh rosemary
• Organic hummus topped with cumin seeds and smoked paprika flakes
• Warm asparagus (pan-fried in the same pan as the halloumi) with tomatoes and watercress
• Potato chips of choice (I love plain tortilla chips or the hummus chips pictured, now available in Aldi)

All served with warm wholewheat pita bread for dunking and dipping!

Have you thought about your single-use plastic consumption this summer? What steps have you taken to reduce it? I’m always looking for new tips so would love to hear your thoughts!