I actually think any indoor picnic is pretty perfect and fun as long as nothing spills, and all that is needed for this one is 7 ingredients for a perfect indoor picnic! A blanket, one platter of colorful finger foods, a 5-minute homemade guacamole, and lunch on the living room floor becomes an event.
Do you ever have epic indoor picnics? This past Monday Chase and I decided to have lunch on the living room floor. It is the same easy grazing idea as my healthy snacks party platter and allergy-friendly kids snacks, just spread out on a blanket.
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 5 minutes for the guacamole
- 🧺 Setup: 7 simple picnic elements, one platter
- 🍽️ Serving: 4 (guacamole)
- ⚡ Calories: 82kcal per guacamole serving
- 👶 Kid Factor: finger foods and cookie cutter shapes, made together
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Creamy lime-cilantro guacamole with salty chips, sweet fruit and crunchy nuts
- ✋ Difficulty: Crush an avocado, arrange a platter, spread a blanket.
Quick Answer
Spread a large blanket on the floor, condense the food onto one serving plate (a chip and dip platter works perfectly), and set the drinks on their own plate or flat surface so nothing spills. Fill the platter with finger foods: grape tomatoes, tortilla chips, raspberries, watermelon cut into shapes with cookie cutters, pistachios, and a quick guacamole of 1 crushed ripe avocado, 1-2 tablespoons chopped cilantro, 2 teaspoons lime juice and salt to taste.
Jump to:
I was a bit nervous about bringing lots of random plates onto the floor for fear of them getting knocked over along with our drinks and spilling into the carpet. But using a chip & dip plate keeps the food all on one platter, and our drinks we set on another plate to keep stable.
We both love meals that offer an array of colors and variety that we can pick and choose what we want. Usually (I or) we (forced by me) put together a plate consisting of a protein, fruit, vegetable, & grain or carbohydrate. Since we made our plate together we couldn't wait to dig in and play!
We served: grape tomatoes, tortilla chips, raspberries and cut out star watermelon, pistachios, and homemade guacamole (recipe below). Use any extra watermelon and turn it into this watermelon juice recipe!
Why This Indoor Picnic Works
Click to see the technique science
- One platter, no chaos. A chip and dip plate keeps every food in its own section and off the carpet.
- The drink plate trick. Setting cups on their own plate or flat surface keeps them stable on a soft blanket.
- Finger foods only. No forks to drop, no sauces to tip; everything is pick-up-and-eat.
- Food that doubles as play. Raspberries on little fingers and cookie cutter watermelon stars turn lunch into a game, and if it's a game, kids are more likely to eat it.
- Made together. Kids who help cut shapes and mash the guacamole cannot wait to dig in.
Why You'll Love This Idea
- Rainy day rescue: a full picnic with zero weather and zero ants.
- 5-minute guacamole at 82 calories a serving.
- Balanced by design: a protein, fruit, vegetable, and grain on one plate.
- Everything is shareable and toddler-sized, like my simple nachos.
- A colorful spread that eats like a vegetarian taco salad without the table.
What We Served
- Grape tomatoes - the vegetable, bite-sized.
- Tortilla chips - or bake your own baked tortilla chips.
- Raspberries and star watermelon - cut with cookie cutters for the fun factor.
- Pistachios - the protein and the crunch.
- Homemade guacamole: 1 ripe avocado, 1-2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro, 2 teaspoons lime juice, and salt to taste. More avocado ideas live in my guacamole recipe.
Full guacamole measurements are in the recipe card below.
The 7 Ingredients for a Perfect Indoor Picnic
- Blanket: Set out a large blanket on the floor.
- 1 Food Serving Plate: Condense food onto 1 serving plate for easy handling into the other room.
- Drink Plate: Set drinks on a plate or flat surface to avoid spilling.
- Fun: Make food fun! Serve raspberries or olives to play with on little fingers. If it's a game, kids are more likely to eat it.
- Cookie Cutters: Use cookie cutters to cut out fun shapes in watermelon, cheeses or cucumbers.
- Togetherness: Do it together. Have kids make shapes with cookie cutters or mix dip and guacamole.
- Finger Food: Finger food is best for picnics (in my opinion).
How to Make the Guacamole
1Slice the avocado in half and remove the avocado seed. Scoop out the avocado and with a fork crush it in a bowl.
2Add the chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt to taste.
3Mix and crush well until you get as smooth a consistency as possible.
4Serve with chips or vegetables and enjoy!
As always, be sure to check out the full recipe details in the recipe card below.
Expert Tips
- Beat the spills before they happen: one platter for food, one plate for drinks, and everything stays stable on the blanket.
- Sectioned platters win. A chip and dip plate keeps wet foods (guacamole, fruit) away from dry chips.
- Cut shapes ahead or together. Cookie cutters work on watermelon, cheeses or cucumbers, and little hands can help.
- Balance the plate: a protein, fruit, vegetable, and grain covers lunch without a single extra dish.
- Salt the guacamole to taste and crush it smooth; a ripe avocado does all the work.
- Round out the spread with fresh salsa, a few no-bake protein balls, or a scoop of no-bake oatmeal cookies.
Serving Ideas
Set the platter in the middle of the blanket and let everyone graze; the pink drinks on their own plate finish the party look (a batch of strawberry detox water keeps the cups just as pretty). For bigger appetites add homemade granola bars or a stack of burrito bowl fixings, and for dessert-picnics my healthy baked donuts travel well to any room in the house.
Indoor Picnic FAQs
Seven things: a large blanket, one food serving plate, a drink plate, an element of fun, cookie cutters for shapes, togetherness (make it with the kids), and finger foods. Condensing everything onto one platter is the key.
Set the drinks on their own plate or flat surface instead of directly on the blanket. It keeps the cups stable and off the carpet.
Finger foods: grape tomatoes, tortilla chips, raspberries, watermelon cut into shapes, pistachios and a bowl of guacamole. Aim for a protein, fruit, vegetable, and grain on one plate.
Crush 1 ripe avocado with a fork, then mix in 1-2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, 2 teaspoons lime juice and salt to taste. Crush until it is as smooth as possible and serve with chips or vegetables.
Make the food a game. Raspberries or olives on little fingers, cookie cutter shapes in watermelon or cheese, and letting kids help make the plate all work; if it's a game, kids are more likely to eat it.
Use any extra watermelon from the cookie cutter shapes and turn it into watermelon juice. It takes minutes in the blender and finishes the picnic as the drink.
7 Ingredients For A Perfect Indoor Picnic
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Ingredients
- 1 ripe avocado
- 1-2 Tbsp. fresh Cilantro chopped
- 2 tsp. lime juice
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Slice avocado in half and remove avocado seed. Scoop out the avocado and with a fork crush it in a bowl.
- Add chopped cilantro, lime juice and salt to taste.
- Mix and crush well until you get as smooth a consistency as possible.
- Serve with chips or vegetables and enjoy!
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