Food and Grass

There are some forms of art that are slowly dying or have died in recent years. I’m not talking about fine art, rather arts such as the art of porch-sitting, or the art of going-outside-to-do-anything-other-than-take-the-garbage-out. Even the art of fine dining inside the home is becoming extinct. Some people don’t know how to prepare food if it’s not microwaveable or easy to pull out of the box and shove into the preheated oven. Technology has given us more free time and what do we do with it? I don’t know about you, but I’ve taken up the hobby of not going insane.

Have you ever stopped eating in the middle of a meal and realized that nobody is talking, the television is on and little Billy is mindlessly putting vegetables (which he never eats) into his mouth as he watches one of the many crime investigation shows? If it doesn’t bother you, by all means, continue not talking with your family members and let Billy put hair on his chest. If it does bother you (the not talking or interacting part), go on a picnic. It’s simple, refreshing and you might have a good conversation with your family. Not to mention most picnics involve fun activities before and after eating, like Frisbee or catch.

Picnics are the perfect way to get in touch with a lot of things. Family, for one; the world outside your home, for two; and the beauty of nature, for three. The list doesn’t stop there, of course, but I’ll allow you to complete the list of items that you enjoy doing as you sit on a blanket in the grass and munch on a crisp piece of celery and watch your children beat each other up because Billy threw the Frisbee into the nearby stream and it has disappeared.

I am ready for a picnic at the drop of a hat: there is always a blanket in the back of my Jeep. You don’t even need a basket, though it does help if you want to keep plates and utensils in it. Most of the time, my picnics are pretty whimsical. My wife and I will stop at the store, grab some chicken and potato wedges, and we’re off to enjoy lunch in some shady grove in the foothills. Or if we’re feeling French, we’ll buy a small loaf of artisan bread, a triangle of Brie cheese, dipping oil, and maybe some lunchmeat, then go find a picturesque place to dine. Simple, yet flavorful and fun.

What’s really nice about picnics is that you end up spending some quality time with your family and friends. Conversations happen, the kids get exercise, the food typically isn’t microwaved, and there are rarely any dishes to wash up. Clean-up consists of mom and dad each grabbing a side of the blanket and flipping the crumbs off for some lucky bug to find. The time you saved with not washing dishes you get to spend finding out just how much more energy everyone else has than you.

If you are one of the great people in this world perpetuating the art of picnicking, I salute you. There are so many problems in this world that affect a person’s well-being negatively, but you are doing something active that promotes a healthy lifestyle, both mentally and physically. And what better way to enjoy Utah’s outdoors than with food? Nothing beats watching the sun set behind the Wasatch Mountains as you devour a homemade Shepherd’s Pie on top of a grassy knoll.

Should you find yourself wishing you had more time or energy for picnicking, just do it. Throw some foodstuffs into a sack, hop in your car, find the nearest park, and eat! It doesn’t get any easier than that. I wish everyone “bon appétit,” especially if you are eating Brie on bread, and I hope you have some great moments as you combine food and the outdoors.