Ready to plan your dreamiest, most delicious picnic yet? Whether you’re dining lakeside, in your favorite city park, or on your own sunny balcony, this Ultimate Vegan Picnic Guide has everything you need – including a free printable at the end!
Picnics are amazing. I love grabbing my best friend, searching for the perfect spot, and savoring vegan goodies in the outdoors. The sweet air, warm sun through the trees, the way everything just tastes BETTER outside – it’s a full-on recharge for my soul.
I’ve curated a pretty solid plan for executing the perfect vegan picnic. And I’m going to divulge all of my secrets. Reap from my experience, and picnic with confidence knowing you’ve packed all the essentials. I’ll even prep you for a few contingencies. With just a little bit of planning, you will be well on the way to your own perfect picnic.
Originally, I had planned to include a little history of picnics as well, but this post was long enough as it is, so if you’re interested (as *I* was), you can check that out [HERE]. The rest of the guide is below; click the titles to jump to individual sections, or scroll through the entire guide to the end of the post. Now let’s go, YYC!
The Ultimate Vegan Picnic Guide
[WHY CHOOSE PLANTS?]
[SELECTING YOUR SPOT]
[PLANNING THE MENU]
[GATHERING YOUR GOODIES]
[PACKING LIKE A PRO]
[PRINTABLE PLANNER & CHECKLIST]
Why Choose Plants?
While this guide was certainly written with vegans in mind, there are plenty of reasons to choose a plant-based picnic. Obviously every meal consumed without animal products is a win for them. But there are other benefits too! Vegan foods are naturally lower in saturated fats, and cholesterol free. They contain higher amounts of fiber, which can also reduce cholesterol, improve gut health, and help regulate blood sugar. Plant-based foods also have a lower carbon footprint, and require less water to produce – pasta uses 1849 litre/kg, whereas beef uses 15415 litre/kg – over 8 times as much. When it comes down to it, a plant-based picnic is the BEST option – for the animals, for the planet – and even you!
Every time you choose a plant-based meal and alternative products, you save animals, reduce environmental harm, and benefit your health.
BarnSanctuary.org
Selecting Your Spot
Before you can decide what you’d like to eat, you’re going to need to choose a spot. Realistically, you can picnic anywhere – including your backyard, the local park, or a particularly beautiful green space. My favourite picnic ever was in Seton, on green space in a literal parking lot. At the time, that green space was home to at least 50 domestic rabbits. It was MAGICAL.
Tragically “Bunny Park” no longer exists, but there are other picnic spots in YYC. Try Prairie Winds Park, Stanley Park, Edworthy Park, or Fish Creek Park, all within the city limits. Don’t forget to wander your own neighbourhood or the ones surrounding it – you might find your own bunny park!
PICNIC PRO TIP
If you are heading out to the mountains, mark off a couple of spots you’d like to check out. Sometimes the first spot is too busy or isn’t quite what you’d hoped it would be, and it helps to have a Plan B and even C!
We are so lucky in Calgary to live close to the mountains; Kananaskis has some gorgeous picnic spots within driving distance. Before you head out, check the Provincial Parks Website to make sure the area you plan to visit is actually open. If you are heading into Bear Country, take necessary precautions and follow any park instructions you might see posted. Cell signal is pretty spotty out in Kananaskis, so it’s helpful to have your routes pre-planned, and maybe even a map or two printed just in case your phone dies. Don’t forget to double check the forecast before you head out!
Planning the Menu
When it comes to planning the perfect vegan picnic, a well-balanced and delicious menu is key. Whether you’re packing for two or feeding a crowd, having a variety of dishes ensures there’s something for everyone to enjoy. To make things simple (and to spark inspiration if you’re feeling stuck), I’ve broken the menu into five easy categories: Sandwiches & More, Salads, Snacks & Dips, Sweets, and Beverages. Mix and match your favorites from each section, or use it as a guide to create a thoughtful, crowd-pleasing spread that travels well and tastes even better under the sun.
1. Sandwiches & More – Wraps and Beyond
- sandwich fillings: smashed chickpea salad (egg salad-style OR tuna salad-style), cream cheese and tomatoes or cucumber, hummus and veggies, classic nutbutter & jam, vegan coldcuts
- sandwich coverings: multigrain bread or rolls, wraps, collard leaves, rice paper
- rainbow salad rolls
- pinwheels
- veggie flatbreads
- soup, especially on cooler days
PICNIC PRO TIP
Prevent sandwiches from getting soggy by packing wet ingredients separately and adding them right before serving.
2. Sensational Salads – More than Just Lettuce
- macaroni/pasta salads, coleslaw, potato salad.
- hearty grain salads – quinoa added to a vegan greek salad or couscous with roasted vegetables
- crunchy cucumber salads (this is an excellent reason to eat a whole cucumber): dill, crispy chili, etc.
- bean and lentil salads
3. Nibbles, Dips and Spreads – Vegan Snackboarding
- Snacks: pickles of all kinds (onions, beans, etc), olives, cut fresh veggies, fruits, roasted chickpeas, popcorn, mixed nuts, pretzels, crackers, rice cakes
- Dips & Spreads: hummus, dill pickle dip, roasted red pepper dip, onion dip, queso, ranch, cowboy caviar, seven-layer dip, guacamole, vegan cheeses, jams, preserves, nutbutters
PICNIC PRO TIP
Arrange a bunch of goodies on a board for easy snacking
4. Sweet Treats – Don’t Forget Dessert!
- easy-to-transport vegan brownies, cookies, or cupcakes
- fruit skewers with vegan yogurt dip or coconut whip
- fruit crumble or oat bars
- jarred desserts like cake or cheezecake
5. Beverages – Savoury Sips
- ice water (in a refillable container of course!)
- lemonade, fruit punch
- iced tea
- kombucha
- juice
- infused waters
- adult beverages – mimosas, wine, beer.
Gathering Your Goodies
- Conventional grocery: fruits, vegetables, bread, and even some vegan meats are available at any of the major chain grocery stores. When looking for cold cuts, some national brands to look out for are Gusta, Tofurkey and Yves.
- Specialty Grocery: Blush Lane has the biggest selection of vegan cheeses, including cashew-based cheese. Community Natural Foods and Amaranth have a good selection of vegan products. Homey Foods and all Hearts Choices locations have a grocery section with some harder-to-find or specialty vegan items.
- For Goodness Bake carries Veghammer deli “mheats”, as well as some ready-to-eat sandwiches and desserts made by Calgary local businesses. Lots of great items for packing along on a picnic, and I’ll often stop there on my way out of town to grab desserts.
- Other great options for desserts: Canela (Inglewood), Kashew Bakery (Farmers Market West), Doughnut Party (Inglewood, Marda Loop)
PICNIC PRO TIP
Craving an impromptu picnic? Pachemama Soul offers free picnic basket rentals with takeout food purchase. Each basket comes with a Bluetooth Speaker, cutlery for up to six people, a blanket, and directions to their favourite spot in Fish Creek Park!
For additional information on local Calgary vegan businesses, check out the Vegan in YYC Directory.`
Pack Like a Pro
- Keep it Sustainable: Wherever possible, package your picnic in reusable containers or wrappers, and use reusable cutlery. Try soy-wax wraps instead of plastic wrap to keep items fresh. When possible, opt for plant-based plastics that are biodegradable.
- Remember to keep dressings and wet ingredients packed separately to prevent things from getting soggy.
- Pre-slice and pre-cut whatever you can before leaving, and pack foods in individual portions where possible to make for easy serving.
- Make sure you chill everything thoroughly before packing, and ensure you use ice packs or frozen water bottles to keep foods cool.
- Check your containers for leaks etc before packing to prevent any spills or mishaps.
- Use my printable check list or make your own to make sure you don’t forget any essentials, like napkins or sunscreen.
PICNIC PRO TIP
Whatever you pack in, make sure you pack it out. Including your bottle caps!
A vegan picnic isn’t just about food – it’s about being in nature, making kind choices, and enjoying the little things. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just testing the waters, one plant-based picnic can be the perfect step toward a more compassionate lifestyle.
Let me know if you try any of these ideas – or tag me on social media with your cruelty-free picnic creations, @veganinyyc on all platforms. Do you have any favourite picnic dishes or tips? Make sure you leave them in the comments below. See you soon!
[PRINTABLE PLANNER]
[& CHECKLIST]
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