Healthy Picnics to Go

With the temperatures beginning to warm up, it's the perfect time to get outside and and enjoy a picnic. But the last thing you want to pack is the potential for food poisoning. Here are some tips for a perfect - and safe - picnic.

So, what can you pack for a picnic that's safe and easy to prepare? If you're barbecuing, frozen hamburger patties and chicken are convenient. Fresh, whole fruits are also a good idea as long as they're adequately washed. There are also plenty of tasty and convenient salad kits on the market, and you don't have to worry about the mayonnaise - today's major brands are pasteurized so they're much safer than before.

But, no food is safe if you leave it out too long. So, follow these simple rules:

• Keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold.
• Honor the two-hour rule. Anything perishable should be kept at room temperature for no more than two hours. If it's a warm day, make it the one-and-a-half hour rule.
• Pack your cooler carefully. Place the most perishable foods on the bottom of the cooler, where it's coldest. If you want to be even safer, take two coolers; one for drinks and the other for perishable foods. That way, warm air won't reach the perishables each time someone reaches for a drink.