Putting together a simple supermarket picnic
Choose a small lunch you can finish, compare the checkout total and keep chilled food cool until you eat.
Start with something filling, something fresh and a drink you already have or need to buy. You do not need a large shopping basket to make a picnic lunch. A roll, a suitable filling and a piece of fruit may be enough for a short stop.
A €5 target can be useful, but it is not a price guarantee across Europe. Use the shelf prices in the shop you visit and keep track of the checkout total.
A small spending plan
This is an illustrative budget, not a quoted basket from a named supermarket:
| Item | Spending limit |
|---|---|
| Bread or rolls | €1.50 |
| Filling or spread | €2.00 |
| Fruit | €1.00 |
| Remaining allowance | €0.50 |
| Total | €5.00 |
The plan assumes you already have drinking water and does not include utensils or a cool bag. If local prices do not fit, change the food or increase the allowance.
Buy the amount you will use
A large package may have a lower unit price but a higher bill. It only saves money if you can finish or store the rest. Smaller portions can make more sense on the day you leave a city.
Check whether loose produce needs to be weighed and labelled before checkout. Choose food you can eat without a kitchen or a knife you do not have. Read ingredients on spreads and ready-made sandwiches if you have dietary requirements.
Keep chilled food chilled
The Food Standards Agency's picnic guidance advises keeping foods that normally need refrigeration cool with a suitable bag and ice packs. Buy perishable items close to mealtime if you cannot keep them cold during the day.
Choose a permitted place to eat, keep entrances and paths clear, and take all packaging away. Avoid buying a fragile or messy lunch if you will be standing with luggage.
Our food-market guide offers another way to shop for a small meal. In Switzerland, the supermarket dining guide compares groceries with the separate restaurant and buffet options.