Start with the place
Before choosing the food, check where you will sit. A picnic table requires different equipment from damp grass. For a short outing near home, choose somewhere picnicking is allowed, with an easy return route and accessible toilets if needed. Check the weather and decide on an alternative. A light bag stops being useful when three coats and a large groundsheet must be added at the last moment.
Put the empty bag on a table and reserve space for the bulkiest items: a folded blanket, water and a food container. A thin tablecloth is not a substitute for suitable protection on wet ground. If someone needs a stable seat, choose a place with seating rather than relying on an uncomfortable arrangement.
Reduce the number of containers
Allow one container per person or choose a few boxes that nest together when empty. Food that needs only one utensil avoids extra plates and cutlery. Use an insulated bag with ice packs for perishable food, and follow the storage instructions on each product. An ordinary shopping bag does not keep food safely chilled.
Protect washed, dried whole fruit in a small box. Carry water in a securely closed bottle, away from anything fragile. You will not need a knife if preparation is finished at home. Remember a napkin, a way to clean your hands and a leakproof bag for rubbish or an accidentally leaking container. A small reusable cloth can protect the contents during the journey and wipe a non-food spill afterwards.
Keep the outing manageable
Unpack only what you need when you are ready to eat. Leave foods that require chilling in their appropriate container and do not keep products for later if safe storage conditions have been lost. Avoid dishes you cannot transport properly rather than hoping a short journey will make unsuitable storage acceptable.
Before leaving, look beneath the blanket and around the bench: transparent wrappers and little bottle tops are easy to miss. Do not feed leftovers to animals. Empty the bag promptly at home, clean the containers and let the blanket dry. Seeing which items actually earned their place makes the next picnic simpler to pack.
