picnic
Courtney Russell
Dad doesn't need a stuffy restaurant meal for Father's Day -- keep things casual, fun, and (literally) down to earth with a picnic. We've got plenty of ideas for both reusable and disposable containers, and clever ways for the kids to customize them. This is one lunch that will definitely illustrate how much everyone loves Dad.

For ideas about what kind of food to put into the containers, browse our picnic, sandwich, and salad recipes.

P.S. to Mom: remember to pack hand wipes, paper towels, and trash bags to make clean-up easier and to maintain sanity.
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Courtney Russell
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The Basic Picnic "Kit"

• a classic cotton bag makes the perfect picnic tote, and transports library books come fall (large tote in saddle, $22)
• apple-green tableware is made from 100% recycled plastic and is fully recyclable. This starter set -- containing flatware, cups, and two sizes of plates -- allows you to serve up to 8 people for years to come. ($21 the set; individual items carried at Whole Foods Market)
• pack food in lockable containers (these from Sterilite, $16.99 for 12 pieces)
• for times when reusables aren't practical, opt for eco-friendly throwaways. Check your local health food store or national retailers like Whole Foods Market for paper products made from recycled or unbleached paper (like these kraft paper carry-out boxes, $13 for 40) or those that are compostable (like these bagasse dishes, 50 bowls for $4, 50 plates for $6)
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Courtney Russell
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The Fabric of Your Life

Draw a greeting on a cotton dinner napkin (4 for $9.99) with ordinary crayons, then preserve the sentiment with an iron. Here's how:

Draw your design freehand on the napkin. Heat your iron to the cotton setting, and place a piece of office paper under the napkin and another piece of paper on the napkin, covering the design. Rest the iron over the design, pressing for a few seconds. Repeat until you've pressed the entire design -- the excess crayon gets transferred to the paper. If the images appear to light, repeat the process. Launder the napkins on gentle and hang to dry.
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Courtney Russell
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Skip the Flowers, Smell the Herbs

Camouflage a pot of herbs with the stock market report (or whatever other newspaper section is near and dear to Dad) by placing the pot on a half sheet of newspaper folded in half again. Gather the paper around the pot with one hand and secure with a colorful rubber band (rubber bands, $3).
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Courtney Russell
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Art with Heart

Repurpose a slice of your kids art as a wrap for a rectangular food container. Colorful rubber bands (see #3 above) hold the masterpiece in place.
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Courtney Russell
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Save Me a Place

Laminate the comics from Dad's Sunday paper to make wipe-clean place mats. Ours measure 12- by 16-inches, and were laminated at Kinko's for $3 each.