11 genius picnic hacks that will transform eating outdoors this summer

The easy food and drink tricks you'd wished you'd known sooner

Following the UK government's most recent lockdown changes, some people will be considering having a socially distanced picnic with friends or family.

Whether you roll out your picnic blanket in the garden or on a field, being prepared particularly in hot weather is key to having a successful time.

And if you have children, being organised and ready for sticky fingers is even more important.

From cocktail sausages and Scotch eggs to homemade lemonade and tasty cakes, you can't beat a classic British picnic in the summer especially when the sun is shining.

To help you get on your way to having your best picnic yet, here are some clever hacks to try.

1. Freeze bottles of water

Not only will they cool you down when you're in the sun, they act as alternative ice boxes if you haven't got any.

2. Freeze sandwiches

To save you time, make your cheese and ham sarnies the night before and freeze them.

Pop them in the cool bag in the morning and they will be defrosted by the time you lay out your picnic blanket.

Add salad and sauces to your sandwiches after.

3. Cupcake cases as drink lids

Paper cupcake cases make excellent lids to keep flies away from your drinks.

Snip a hole in them with scissors so you can slot a straw through.

4. Freeze grapes and add to wine

Frozen grapes are a great substitute for ice cubes and they work perfectly in a glass of vino.

5. Sticky fingers station

Fill a bucket or large bowl with cleaning equipment such as wet wipes, tissues and hand santizer.

6. Veggie sticks

Cut up vegetables into batons at home to save you time and effort when you're out.

You don't want to be busy chopping up carrots, celery and cucumber when you can be enjoying the sunshine.

7. Salad jars

Fill empty and clean jam jars with lettuce and cucumber and pop them into your defrosted sandwiches once the blanket or table is set up.

They will keep fresh and crisp in the jars.

8. Muffin tin

Use a muffin baking tin for snacks such as biscuits, crisps, vegetable sticks and bitesize fruit.

The individual holes are great for sharing and it looks pretty too.

9. Tic Tak seasoning pots

If you have empty Tick Tac mint pots wash them out thoroughly and fill them with salt and pepper rather than bringing heavy shakers from home.

10. Egg carton sauces

Use an empty plastic egg carton for dips and sauces.

It's great for mess free dunking.

11. Milk carton cutlery draw

Finally, wash out an empty milk or juice carton, cut off one side and use if for cutlery.

It will keep sharp objects safe and is ideal for putting dirty knives and forks in afterwards.