When considering a picnic, it’s imperative to think beyond uninvited ants that have food on the brain. Besides, dictionary definitions of picnicking that focus on the “outdoor eating” part just don’t capture the magnanimous essence of the experience.

“Picnicking invites us to slow down and connect,” says Kiara Richardson, a cotillion director for Jon D. Williams Cotillions. For 76 years, that nationwide program based in Denver has educated children in Colorado Springs on modern etiquette, social confidence and respectful behavior.

“Whether it’s a date, a family meal or a gathering of friends, dining outside reminds us that etiquette isn’t about being fancy — it’s about being thoughtful,” she says. “And that’s something everyone can practice, no matter the setting.”

The thought counts in many ways, though, when sharing a meal on a traditional red checkered cloth or a comfy blanket. Or while huddled under a park pavilion or on a creek-side bench.

While picnicking, children can be, well, children and adults can adopt the joyous, carefree attitude of youth as they savor the feel of grass beneath their bare feet, fly a kite or toss a Frisbee.

And if someone spills a drink or drops some food, that’s not a problem.

Manners should not be forsaken in the wild, however, Richardson says.

In cotillion classes, “we encourage students to treat every outing as a chance to show kindness, courtesy, consideration and respect — even when barefoot in the grass.”

Food, of course, plays a leading role in picnics and should not be overlooked, says Logan Anderson, a former executive chef at The Broadmoor who works the front of the house at The French Kitchen. The business in northern Colorado Springs features a French bakery, café and boutique.

Must-haves for the picnic basket, he says, include fruit, bread, cheese, cold cuts, a salad (leafy, pasta or vegetable such as corn or cucumber), chips and dessert. Don’t forget to pack the bubbly for a romantic time.

“I see picnicking as an activity that is initiated by the desire to be outside and is improved and enhanced with the presence of food,” Anderson says.

Some prefer to set up tabletop grills for a barbecue or pick up fried chicken and bring deviled eggs, baked beans and potato salad.

Whatever is on the menu, picnics build memories and should be enjoyed as often as possible, Anderson says.

“Many people strive harder than ever to maintain a playful lifestyle and keep the social and outdoor spirit alive,” he says. “(They) make efforts to escape — if only for an afternoon — the sedentary lifestyle that so many of us live nowadays.

“Picnicking can serve as a great reprieve from the hustle of everyday life.”

That’s how the practice originated during the Middle Ages, when hunters sought respite from their work and ate outside.

The concept became fashionable in the 1700s, as French and then English aristocracy partook of elegant meals served outdoors. The modern-day picnic table was introduced in the early 1900s.

An ideal spot for a picnic in contemporary times is an outdoor concert venue, and there are abundant choices throughout the Pikes Peak region. Music and food have paired nicely this summer on the grass in front of the recently remodeled Manitou Springs Library, branch supervisor Karin Swengel says.

Many attendees of the Lawn Concert Series “love to come and picnic as a family, and there are lots of good snacks and good music,” she says. Plus, “dogs are especially happy to be there.”