If you are planning a picnic but have no coolbox or bag, make your own by lining your picnic basket or box with cold beverages; and then pack the food in the centre. But remember that the cold cans are no substitute for ice; only use this trick if you have a short distance to travel and your food is unlikely to spoil.
A clean shower curtain makes a good picnic cloth, because spills are easy to wipe up.
Carry your food to the picnic site in sturdy cardboard boxes; once you get there, remove the contents, turn the boxes upside-down and cover them with a shower curtain or waterproof cloth to create a miniature table.
To keep ants out of food, use aluminium foil or plastic film. Or pack food in containers with lids that you can close after each serving. You could also buy dome-shaped nets to cover plates and bowls.
If you are worried about food poisoning, avoid egg salad, potato salad and fish and pasta dishes, especially on hot days. Instead, make sandwiches out of luncheon meats, tinned meats or cheese. And spread the bread with mustard (a fairly good preservative because of its acid content), butter or margarine instead of mayonnaise.
If it is a very hot day indeed, freeze puddings, yoghurt and sandwiches without salad. Then pack them into a coolbox, if you have one, with ice packs (or cubes in a plastic bag); by the time you're ready to eat, the food should be defrosted.
