Ready-to-eat munchies: Let the commissary cater your next picnic

FORT LEE, Va. – Summer is the perfect time to lay down those mobile devices, TV remotes and game system controllers and take the family outside for some old fashioned bonding at a perfectly planned picnic.

“To put together a summer picnic basket that will get the job done but won’t break the bank, don’t go any further than your local commissary,” said Tracie Russ, the Defense Commissary Agency’s director of sales. “You can put together a delicious, economical, al fresco meal with almost no effort at all. Save even more when you purchase high quality, low cost commissary store brands.”  

Picnic food should keep well, transport easily and taste delicious. The following three picnic options hit the mark. Find great prices on the ingredients and ready-to-eat items for each of these menus at your commissary. Find the recipes for the linked menu items on commissaries.com.

Comfort food picnic

• Cold Fried Chicken or Chicken Nuggets
• Potato Salad
• Deviled Eggs
• Coleslaw
• Watermelon
• Cobbler
• Sweet Iced Tea
  
   

Wine and cheese picnic

• Choose one of each type of cheese:
  • Aged: cheddar, gouda, swiss
  • Soft: blue, boursin, brie, goat
  • Firm: gruyere, monterey jack, jarlsberg, parmesan
    
     
• Choose bread, crackers or flatbread
• Choose your extras
  • Savory: olives, pickles, roasted red peppers
  • Sweet: jam or chutney, apple or pear slices, berries, prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe
  • Crunchy: nuts, seeds or roasted edamame, chickpeas or pumpkin seeds
  • Meat: prosciutto, ham or turkey
    
     
• Wine and corkscrew
  
   

Sandwich and sides picnic

• Sandwiches:
  • Tuna bahn mi
  • Mayonnaise-free chicken salad sandwich
  • Turkey caprese panini or grilled eggplant sandwich
  • Veggie wraps or pork lettuce wraps
    
                   

• • Hummus and veggies or caprese on a stick
  • Pasta salad
  • Chips and dip
  • Fruit salad
  • Brownies
  • Spritzer

“There’s no better way to take advantage of the sunshine and summer breezes than to enjoy a family picnic. And no better way to save on your picnic menu than a quick visit to your commissary,” said Russ. “So put away the electronics, pack your basket and some games, hit the road and gear up for some incomparable family time.” 

-DeCA-

About DeCA: The Defense Commissary Agency operates a worldwide chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel, retirees and their families in a safe and secure shopping environment. Commissaries provide a military benefit, saving authorized patrons thousands of dollars annually on their purchases compared to similar products at commercial retailers. The discounted prices include a 5-percent surcharge, which covers the costs of building new commissaries and modernizing existing ones. A core military family support element, and a valued part of military pay and benefits, commissaries contribute to family readiness, enhance the quality of life for America’s military and their families, and help recruit and retain the best and brightest men and women to serve their country.