Start with a fully loaded picnic basket or pack that comes with the following essential picnic items: plates, utensils, cups, cloth napkins and an insulated cooler. All of these items should have their own compartments in the basket or pack to keep them organized.
Place the items you will need last, such as trash bags and antibacterial wipes, in the bottom of the picnic basket or pack.
Pack the food in water-tight, reusable plastic containers. You can either separate the food into portions or into courses.
Line the bottom of the cooler with ice or a cold pack.
Put the plastic containers of food in the bottom of the cooler. The most perishable foods that need to be kept the coldest should be placed at the very bottom.
Scatter ice or cold packs around the food and place beverages on top. You can freeze beverages in plastic bottles to help keep your food cold. When they melt you will have icy cold drinks.
Place the cooler in the picnic basket or pack, with a picnic blanket on top. The blanket will offer extra insulation and will be easy to pull out when you arrive at your destination.
Put small items such as insect repellent, sunscreen and sunglasses on top of the picnic blanket, since you will likely need them before anything else.
