Summertime is all about enjoying the outdoors and eating great food - a very accessible combination. Taking long walks in the park followed by a picnic with a few of my favorite foods is my "go-to" summer activity. I like to keep my picnic items simple, durable, and light, so the items are not too heavy to carry, preparation is seamless, and the snacks can withstand a long walk. I also like to make items that are crowd pleasers and not too specific to a certain type of palate - sometimes less is more. Bean salads, guacamole, salsa, plenty of fresh veggies, and crunchy chips are my post-hike picnic staples.