The Ultimate Picnic Packing Checklist

Get ready to pack your basket.

No matter what's on the menu, make sure you've got the essentials covered anytime you pack for a picnic. Keep this checklist on hand, or better yet, keep a permanent "picnic kit" with these handy items ready to go.

• Plastic utensils (forks, spoons and knives and serving pieces)


• Plastic or paper plates and cups


• A sharp, serrated knife for cutting meat - be sure you secure the blade when you pack.


• Napkins and/or moist towelettes (you can buy portable packages of moist towelettes at most grocery stores). Anti-bacterial gel to clean hands before handling food is also useful.


• Plastic bags or small trash bags


• Insulated containers for temperature-sensitive foods


• Extra containers for leftover food such as chips or bread. Don't try to save food that may spoil by the time you get it home.


• Basic condiments - ketchup, mustard, relish - collect extra packets from trips to fast food restaurants or look in the grocery store for small non-glass containers of your favorite condiments and sauces.


• Non-toxic bug spray


• A blanket or other ground cover


• Ice fill your cooler with ice and purchase some extra ice at the grocery or convenience store on the way to your picnic. Don't use the ice from your cooler for drinks if it has come into contact with food. Better yet, invest in mess-free plastic cubes that can be frozen ahead of time.


• Footballs, Frisbees, and soccer balls for entertainment.


• CD Player


• Bottle Opener/Corkscrew


• Sunscreen


• Portable chairs and table