One of the joys of summer is to pack a picnic lunch and head for the beach, mountains or even a nearby park to savor delicious food in the open air. These tips will help make your outing safe and enjoyable.

Equipment Checklist

• Soft blanket plus a plastic tarp or sheeting to place underneath if the ground is damp.
• Picnic basket filled with unbreakable plates and glassware, flatware, serving utensils and napkins.
• Tablecloth.
• Cutting boards for slicing or assembling foods and serving cheeses.
• Sharp knives.
• Corkscrew and bottle opener.
• Salt and pepper shakers.
• Folding chairs or stools.
• Sunscreen, sun hats, insect repellant and first aid kit.
• Trash bags for cleanup.
• Sealable plastic bags for leftovers.

Packing Food

• Cut desserts, such as brownies and bar cookies, into serving sizes and pack in sealable containers.
• Pack hot foods in thermoses.
• Pack foods that require refrigeration in one cooler and drinks in a separate one. The drink cooler will be opened frequently during the picnic, preventing other foods from staying well chilled.
• Pack coolers just before leaving home. Be sure that foods and drinks are already well chilled, and surround them with plenty of ice and frozen gel packs.
• When driving to your destination, place ice chests inside an air-conditioned car, rather than in the trunk. At the picnic site, set ice chests in the shade and keep food in the cooler until serving time.