Spring and summer are the perfect seasons for field trips, camping trips, and other special events. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to the logistics of food and guiding girl planning:

Plan for picky eaters.

Every girl is different in her level of comfort in trying new foods. Encourage all girls to at least try each food on the menu. If you are roasting hot dogs for dinner, let each girl roast her own and give it a try. If she doesn’t like it, have some peanut butter and jelly on hand, or something else she might like. She’s more likely to give something new a shot if she knows she won’t go hungry. It alleviates some pressure. Always celebrate when girls try something new, even if they decide they don’t enjoy it.

Plan for dietary restrictions.

You’re probably already aware of dietary restrictions for the girls in your troop, but be sure to check in with any parents attending as well. Make substitutions or avoid that food where you can. Ideally, girls with dietary restrictions can eat the same or equivalent foods to their friends. For example, if you’re serving chicken nuggets, also find chicken nuggets with gluten-free breading for girls who need it. Don’t be afraid to talk to families. They can help you make choices and often will provide or suggest substitutes if they know what you need.

Plan for a balanced meal.

This even helps girls make more choices. Girls can select a main course, a side, fruits and veggies, and a drink. Think about all the pieces of nutrition they’ll need and let them decide. You  can even connect this concept to a food-related badge!

Changing leadership as girls age.

For our younger girls, we recommend the leaders choose a few options and let the girls narrow it down from there. As they age, they can brainstorm their own choices, then decide. If you notice your girls getting stuck, or going back to the same meals every time, find some recipe books and challenge them to something new. Sometimes they need help finding new ideas.

Plan for the girls to be chefs.

Girls love a chance to be hands-on, and that includes preparing their meals. When selecting options for the girls, or after the girls have brainstormed and made decisions, take some time to think about what parts of the meal girls can prepare themselves (with supervision of course). While it might be worthwhile for you to prepare some items before your trip, others can wait until your team of girls can tackle it themselves.