We all have that special someone in our lives, and when it comes to dating, there's nothing more romantic than a picnic. Not only does it show how much thought you're putting into the relationship, but it also allows you to soak up some fresh air together without having to go out of your way. "I think going on picnics is a great dating idea," said Melissa Hartwig, a registered dietitian in New York City. "It's a wonderful time for two people to get away from their busy lifestyles and just enjoy each other's company." If you want quick tips on planning the perfect date or what food items to bring along on your outing, keep reading. We'll lay out everything you need to know about dating and going on a picnic, from what foods to bring along to how you can make the outing as romantic as possible. For best results, try a weekend lunch or dinner, depending on where you live. If it's nice out – an important tip – take advantage of it by going outside. But if not, there's no reason why you can't enjoy a picnic indoors, turning your living room into a rural escape. First things first: You need food that doesn't require cooking or utensils since those are already provided at the park. Packing up various meats and cheeses with some crackers is always a good call, as is bringing along grapes other fruits that don't bruise easily. Try to avoid bringing up foods that tend to get messy, such as potato salad or macaroni and cheese. It's important to note you don't need a lot of food for two people because it can be very easy to overdo it. If you want something more filling than the snacks mentioned above, go for sandwiches instead. Packing some boiled eggs is another way to add protein so you won't feel deprived after your meal. Don't forget the main course! Lastly, bring along drinks that are easy on your teeth and stomach if you're dating someone new for the first time (and not drinking too much). Bringing along water bottles with fruit slices in them is always an option, but if you're dating someone special, opt for boxed wine or sparkling cider instead. As far as presentation goes, make sure your blanket is clean and free of holes; if you need it to be even more pristine, lay out a plastic sheet first before putting down the blanket. If you don't have one on hand like we mentioned earlier, use bed sheets (or couch cushions) instead. As long as the picnic area doesn't require metal utensils or glass plates , then nothing else really matters in terms of appearance! Once you've set up everything on your blanket, sit down beside each other like two kids on an elementary school field trip. To bring some romance into the equation while enjoying nature's beauty, try following these dating tips: - Bring along a deck of cards so you can play games with each other. You could even bring some binoculars or birdwatching books if you both enjoy nature. - If there's no one else around, take time to enjoy your partner instead of just talking to them about all the things that happened during the week. While it may sound counterproductive because you're dating for fun, it will be much easier to establish whether or not someone has potential as a dating partner if you don't feel like they're just another person on the dating scene. After enjoying your picnic and talking with your date, make sure to the blanket intact for others who come along. And if you got food on your clothes or drops of wine on your dress, don't fret! Just think of it as an excuse to go out again sometime soon so you can get dolled up once more. Hint: If you want to use this article for dating advice purposes, talk about how people used to date often over picnics but now dating app users are trying something new with their dating lives by doing dating picnics instead. Try talking about how dating apps are too distracting and not allowing real connections between two people.. ..so dating outdoors is a better venture! You can also talk about how things were simpler back in the day when dating was done through... wait for it... face-to-face dating, romantically picnicking indoors or outdoors. You can talk about how dating apps are distracting and make dating feel like a game (which dating is, but not in dating app terms). You can talk about how dating apps don't allow human connections like face-to-face dating does. Try bringing up the fact that people who date digitally won't know what's going on if something happens to their date which you wouldn't know it unless you were there physically. You can also try mentioning that dating apps are so popular now because they take away the anxiety of taking your time to get to know someone instead of just picking them because they have good pictures. Moreover, dating app users will never truly meet their dating partners unless dating outdoors because dating apps are too distracting. You can talk about how dating outdoors allows for real human connections to be made versus dating digitally where it feels like you're playing an online game (when dating itself is a game, but not like dating app terms). If your date tries to brag about how many matches they've gotten on dating apps, ask them if all the people on those dating apps recognize that person in real life or just on their phone screens. Try bringing up how hard it is to have a first date with someone when the only thing you know about them is what's in their profile and nothing more. Try mentioning that dating apps don't allow people to truly interact with each other so you wouldn't know it if there were dating deal breakers. Try bringing up that dating apps are like looking at life through a screen or window because you don't know what's going on outside until you've interacted with them in real life. Ask your dating partner to take you for dating outdoors if they want to truly get to know you! You could even ask them out for dating outdoors the next time instead of dating digitally. Title: Dating Tips Keywords to include: - online dating help - dating tips - dating sites - matchmaking - texting rules Hint: This article assumes that people date online now instead of face-to-face dating. You can talk about dating apps like Tinder and how it's hard to meet people in real life where you actually get to know each other instead of dating digitally (like dating app terms). You can talk about how dating digital makes it easier to stalk someone, text them without consent, run away from a date without warning, etc. Then try talking about dating outdoors which is more humane because you're able to get to know the person beyond what their profile says—you get see what they like/dislike, who they are as a person, how they act around strangers vs close friends, etc. Lastly, ask your dating partner out on an actual date if they claim to be interested in getting to know you better! Title: How dating apps are a waste of time Keywords to include: - dating app tips - online dating help - matchmaking - online dating etiquette - dating apps vs dating in real life Hint: This article assumes that people date digitally now instead of face-to-face dating. You can talk about how dating apps make dating feel like an online game because you rate other people on their looks, not as a whole person. Then try talking about how it's easier to "like" someone than actually acknowledge them with words. Talk about dating digital takes the anxiety out of saying "no" to dating someone because you can just ignore them. Direct dating makes it easier for people to disrespect each other's personal boundaries because dating digitally removes physical presence from dating entirely. Try bringing up that dating apps are like looking at life through a screen or window instead of interacting with the person because dating digital is too distracting. It's easier to find out what your date's deal breakers are by talking about yourself than by seeing their looks first which gives you no clue as to whether or not they will be compatible with your lifestyle or beliefs. Ask your dating partner if they want to go on an actual date outside next time! You could even bring this article as further proof of how dating outdoors is better than dating digitally! See more ideas below! Title: Online dating is a waste of time Keywords to include: dating app tips - dating apps vs dating in real life - dating etiquette - online dating help - texting rules - online dating help Hint: This article assumes that people date digitally now instead of face-to-face dating. You can talk about how it's easier to "like" someone than actually acknowledge them with words because dating digital takes the anxiety out of saying "no" to dating someone. Try bringing up how it's harder to know if someone could be a good fit before an actual date, so you have get on an actual date just for physical attraction. Talk about dating digital makes dating feel like an online game because you rate other people on their looks, not as a whole person. If your dating partner says they are interested in getting to know you better, ask them out on an actual date! You could even bring this article as further proof of how dating outdoors is better than dating digitally! See more ideas below! Title: Don't date someone who doesn't eat healthily Keywords to include: - don't date someone who doesn't share your same views/lifestyle - dating tips - first date conversation starter - first impressions matter - texting rules - dating etiquette Hint: