Indoor Winter Picnics | Family Economics

By Erin

During the winter we eat out less. Well, we don’t eat out much to start with, but in the winter it’s less often. That might sound silly, considering the whole “cabin fever” thing. But if you have little kids, you also know that it takes approximately 20 minutes just to get the kids into their coats and into the car. Even when they can get their coats on themselves…someone’s lost a glove. Someone else’s snow boot is lodged under the couch. And someone else’s heavy coat is still in the wash, so they need a pullover and lightweight coat, which also isn’t where it is supposed to be!

At the end of a long and busy day at the “mom-ffice” and the “blog-ffice,” it seems like it would be less energy just to start a pot of chili or soup. But even that gets old after a month.

So let’s change things up a bit. Let’s change the scenery.

Dig out the summer picnic blanket, toss it on the family room floor and start handing out the sandwiches or wraps. (Here are 5 Picnic Friendly Food Ideas to choose from!) Go with other finger food-y fruits and vegetables like grapes and carrot sticks and perhaps some cookies or brownies for dessert. Yummy fun!

Little fuss in preparing it, little mess to pick up, and you get to make fun memories with the kids. This started by accident in our family, and it’s turned into a weekly tradition, especially during the winter months. On Friday nights, I fix a simple picnic-like meal and we eat on the living room floor and then watch a movie. The kids get to stay up late, even sleep in the living room if they want…and everyone (mom and dad included!) sleeps in on Saturday mornings!

Changing up the dinner routine and scenery has brought extra fun and laughter to our cold, Friday winter nights!

What’s your favorite picnic food and have you ever enjoyed an indoor winter picnic?