Mexitan Sunblock SPF 30, $22 (mexitancanada.com)
Sunblock is important, but many varieties contain toxic chemicals. Look for natural brands in health food stores or online. Mexitan Canada makes an SPF 30 sunscreen that's chemical-free and fortified with healthy green tea antioxidants.
Skedattle Bug Spray, $14 (mexitanproducts.com/skedattle)
The same goes for insect repellent. Skedattle is chemical- and pesticide-free and contains oils of vanilla, citronella, lemongrass and peppermint. Smells lovely on you but awful to the bugs. Tip: Mosquitoes are attracted to the aroma you exude after eating a banana. On the other hand, if you make garlic a part of your meal the pesky critters will bug off!
A moveable feast
Steaz Organic Sodas, $2 (shopwhitefish.ca)
For fun, try to plan an all organic or local menu. Look for humanely raised meats for the grill, artisanal cheeses and breads and locally grown veggies and fruits.
Malivoire Wines, $15.95-24.95 (malivoire.com)
Fill the cooler with natural sodas or organic beer and wine (should local laws permit). Eco-friendly winery Malivoire harvests its grapes by hand, snubs the use of heavy machinery and composts its cuttings and other vineyard leftovers back to the ground. And the wine is great, too! Pack a bottle of summery rosé for your next al fresco meal.
Sigg Aluminum Water Bottles, $22-30 (mysigg.com)
And if you bring along water, try to avoid those ever-so-convenient plastic bottles. Sigg is just one of many makers of refillable steel water bottles. It's a good investment in your health—who knows what's leaching out of the plastic and into our water?—and the health of the planet.
Tip: It takes 200 to 400 years for a pop can to biodegrade. A plastic bottle? No one knows for certain—it hasn't happened yet—however some scientists are suggesting it could take about a thousand years! So don't throw away what you could just as well bring back home and put in the compost bin or blue box. Styrofoam is also a huge no-no. It can't be recycled, it takes forever to break down, and it may prove to be carcinogenic. Invest in a well-made, reusable cooler and reusable (or at least recyclable) food containers.
Getting there is half the fun
Piling the whole gang into the SUV and driving for hours with the AC blasting isn't a particularly eco-friendly way to start your green picnic. And while it might just be unavoidable for some, Canadians are blessed with acres of green spaces and parks right in the middle of our most bustling urban centers. Consider packing knapsacks and hopping on bikes or hiking to your destination. Look into public transit or include another couple or family and carpool. On your way, drop by a farmers' market or U-pick fruit farm. You might even find that the orchard or market is the perfect backdrop for a family picnic.
View the photo gallery "How to make your picnic greener" here.
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