Ideas for a picnic/snacky lunch?

[Thurlow]

I'm utterly lacking inspiration. I have a friend coming for lunch on Saturday and there'll be our two 18mo's to feed too. I am a terrible cook and won't have time to make anything (I'll be doing the shop not long before they come), so a picnic/snack lunch thing sounds easiest to manage around the little ones.

Could anyone suggest what they would serve? I want to do something quite nice because they'll have travelled a way to visit.

Go to M & S they are doing 3 for £6 on their picnic range stuff

Nice fresh bread (baguette or whatever), pâté, cheeses, hoummous, olives, salami, quiche, etc? Plenty for the 18mo's to pick at but also for you?

Fresh strawberries and fruit for afterwards.

Zero cooking involved but you can buy naice stuff.

Tapas, failing that?

Ooh, 3 for £6? That sounds really helpful. No one would think that is too salty/unhealthy for two little ones?

Fresh bakery bread and good fruit still looks nice and like I've made an effort?

Absolutely! My favourite sort of lunch.

Can I come? Yummy!

Pasta salad too?

Poppy - do you do the washing up?

Pasta salad is about the one thing I can do and make it look slightly impressive, but DD detests cold pasta to it's not ideal.

I have an odd issue with giving toddlers pate. I have no idea why, I know it's fine for them, I think it's got something to do with not being allowed it in pregnancy It is fine, isn't it?

What Poppy said but I would maybe add some simple sandwiches for the little ones and perhaps a few carrot/cucumber sticks or similar.