Food People Picnic Pieces Bring Cook Typical And/Or

During the warm summer months, many Americans enjoy having picnics in "the great outdoors" (nature, not in a building). Simple picnics typically involve sandwiches, chips, fruit, cookies, and soda, or simply "cheese and crackers" (an assortments of sliced cheese and/or meats placed on crackers for eating with one's hands) and maybe a "veggie tray" (a platter with small pieces of "raw" (uncooked) vegetables and a "dip" (a thick, flavored liquid that the tips of pieces of food are placed into before eating). But some picnics are much more "elaborate" (with many parts or pieces, involving a lot of details and arrangements).

People who want hot food often bring fried chicken. Typical side dishes might include potato salad, "coleslaw" (a cold salad made by mixing small pieces of cabbage and carrot with mayonnaise and herbs), "pasta salad" (a cold mixture of noodles, vegetables, sauce, and possibly meat), corn bread, and slices of watermelon.

When a park has "grills" (metal objects that rest over a fire, used to cook foods), people often bring food to cook there. Hot dogs and hamburgers are "staples" (very common items), but others cook steaks, fish, or "kebabs" (pieces of food put onto sticks before they are cooked over a fire).

When many people attend a picnic together, it is usually a "potluck" (an event where everyone brings food to share), with some people bringing "main dishes" (entrees) while others bring salads, sides, drinks, or desserts. At these "gatherings" (when many people meet socially), people usually play baseball, soccer, or other games before and/or after eating.