Picnic season is well and truly here, and many people have been enjoying some picky bits in the sunshine over the past few weeks. With picky bits season well underway, I tried picnic items from seven major UK supermarkets and picked my favourites from each to create the ultimate grazing board or basket to enjoy on a sunny day.
The Rise of Picky Bits
Scorching temperatures prompt supermarket shoppers to divert from their usual purchases, often opting for smaller ‘picky bits’ over ingredients for a home-cooked meal. While M&S is perhaps the most synonymous with this trend, other UK supermarkets have offered up their own ranges, offering British consumers more choice than ever before. As Google searches for "picky bits" have surged by 215% compared with the same time last year, supermarkets would be foolish not to jump on the trend, which could become a lasting thing thanks to rising temperatures.
But how healthy are picky bits? Naturally, it is what you make of it, with picky bits varying vastly in nutrients and calories. Interestingly, there may be benefits for people taking GLP-1 medications, including Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic, according to research from MyFitnessPal. Reduced appetites make it harder for people taking these medications to get their daily nutrients, but grazing boards and picnics might be the answer.
Marks and Spencer: The Champion of Picky Bits
The champion of picky bits has almost too much to choose from, but my taste test resulted in some very obvious winners, and they might not be the ones you think. Sometimes, simple is the way to go, and that is certainly the case with the M&S Turkish Grilled Pepperoncini (£4 as listed on Ocado), which packs a punch with spice and smoky flavour. Although they appeared as a side, they were the stars of the show for me, with M&S naming them among the healthiest picky bits choices for 2026.
An indulgent dish comes in the form of the M&S Spanish Chorizo & Cheese Tortilla (£4 via Ocado, while prices could vary in store). It is packed with smoky chorizo and rich, creamy Ibérico cheese, offering a deep flavour that left me feeling rather full. One of the unique picks this year, which has already gone rather viral online, is the M&S Flip & Dips. They come in little pots that you flip over, letting the dip ooze out into a bowl. While there is a Creamy Red Pepper one, the true delight is the Basil Dip With Pesto Drizzle (£3).
Tesco: Good Housekeeping's Picky Tea Supermarket of the Year 2026
The UK’s largest supermarket, which has been named Good Housekeeping's Picky Tea Supermarket of the Year 2026, is certainly a strong competitor for picky bits, and an instant stand-out in my taste test was the Tesco Finest Burrata with Semi Dried Tomatoes Summer Edition 300g (£4.50). The best way to describe it is moreish, and the dip was one of the first things that was completely finished. Among its champion picky bits products is the Tesco Finest Caesar & Smoked Bacon Coleslaw 270g (£3.50), a creamy and indulgent take on the traditional British BBQ side that takes it to a whole new level. When it comes to indulgence, my pick is Tesco Finest Spanish Style Potatoes with Aioli 250g (£3.50). This is a true taste of summer, with a deep, Mediterranean flavour complemented by a light, creamy sauce that offers up the perfect balance for sunshine dining.
Sainsbury's: Taste the Difference Range
Taste the Difference picky bits is a range full of delights, with three obvious highlights for me, and an even more attractive 3 for £8 deal. First up, we have Sainsbury's 190g Labneh with Wild Garlic Pesto (£3.50). Its freshness is hard to beat, and you’ll want plenty of bread to scoop up as much of this amazing flavour as you can. Luckily, that comes in the form of Sainsbury's 210g Mozzarella & Basil Pesto Focaccia (£4). A strong taste of extra-virgin olive oil is paired with rich, sun-dried tomatoes and fresh mozzarella, combining freshness and indulgence for the perfect addition to your grazing board. Perhaps the best value item is the Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Continental Snack Platter 135g (£3.75), which is three picky bits in one. Featuring staples of any grazing platter, its variety helps to make a board that really looks the part and tastes wonderful.
Waitrose: High-End Quality
Many expect high-end retailer Waitrose to offer up quality picky bits this summer, and it certainly doesn’t disappoint with these three highlights. Although it might not be the most in-your-face product on the shelves, the Waitrose Spinach & Feta Parcels (£4) are a clear standout, with fresh feta and just enough spinach flavour to make every bite punchy. My pick for indulgence is the No.1 Extra Mature Cheddar, Wild Garlic & Tomato Quiche (£5 for a pack of two), which has a strong cheesy flavour that is balanced out by the rich tomatoes and punchy garlic. When looking for a dip, the top choice at Waitrose has to be the No.1 Fire Roasted Red Pepper Sharing Dip 300g (£5), topped with chickpeas in a herb dressing and sunflower and pumpkin seeds. With a very vibrant flavour, it also adds a rich, appetising colour that will make any grazing table look more than appealing.
Morrisons: The Best Range for Cost-Conscious Grazers
The Best picky bits range is one for cost-conscious summer grazers, with a variety of classic and innovative flavours to spice up any picky tea. For a sensational, meaty side for your next BBQ, a go-to choice is The Best Meatballs in Sauce (£4). These meatballs have a lovely fresh flavour, but the real star of the show is the sauce in which they come, which would also make for a great dip for bread. An indulgent treat I was surprised to like, and want more of, was the Cheese Burger Empanadas (£3), which are light pastry parcels filled with beef, cheese and diced gherkins that make for a lovely one-bite treat that grazers will be eager to get more of. Jumping on one of the most popular flavour trends of the last few years, Morrison’s also offers up The Best Hot Honey Halloumi Rolls (£3.50), with a hot honey flavour that adds a lovely sweetness and depth to your sharing platter.
Aldi: Flavour and Value
The UK’s cheapest supermarket has flavour and value throughout its picky bits range. The stars of the show are Aldi’s Specially Selected Loaded Dips (£1.99, 170g), of which there is the popular Chicken Caesar one. Taking a classic salad dish, it makes it even more indulgent as a dip, with a smoothness and familiar flavour that lives up to its viral hype. There is also the Extra-Thick Whipped Feta Loaded Dip, offering a richness of flavour and a herby pang that will make you want to dip and dip until the pot has been scraped clean. It also offers up its Chilli Sweetcorn Parcels (£1.99), for a flavour-packed single bite treat that is a must if you’re heading to Aldi for picky bits this summer.
Lidl: Seasonal Delights
Seasonal delights are plentiful at Lidl, with one of the instant highlights proving to be the Halloumi & Hot Honey Parcels 5x28g (£1.99). This little box makes it ideal to have as many or as few as you want on your grazing board, but I think your guests will be asking for more once they try them. Lidl also offers up the rich and meaty Pancetta Crisps (£1.89), which make for a good solo snack or something to sprinkle around your grazing platter for classic Mediterranean flavours in every corner. Going with a classic, but something that many Brits are set to get their hands on this summer, Lidl’s Deluxe Premium Coleslaw 300g (£1.29) is surely going to be a popular item. Quality can really vary when it comes to supermarket coleslaw, but this generous, deluxe pot from Lidl is perhaps among our favourites for summer 2026.
