Picnics may sound romantic and spontaneous, but the amount of preparation is anything but. Remember these tips before heading to the great outdoors.

PACKING PANACHE Fill your picnic basket in the order that you’ll be eating (dessert at the bottom, salad on top). Wrap cutlery with napkins, and plates with an old tablecloth or sarong that can later be used to spread your picnic on. Don’t forget garbage bags and wet tissues.

THE MENU Assorted cheese, crackers, fruit and a bottle of wine require minimal work. Or prepare pasta and salad dishes in vinaigrette dressing which is high in acidity and condiments separately from bread rolls to avoid soggy sandwiches.

FOOD STORAGE Use a wide-necked thermos flask to keep soups or even skewed grilled vegetables and meat warm. Keep cold drinks and ice in a portable cooler. Cling wrap, foil, recycled screw-top jars, or airtight containers are all useful for storage.