- Tell the ants they are above stealing and instruct them to shoo
- Surreptitiously shake flakes of Carolina Reaper super-hot chili pepper on the food. That'll teach 'em
- Create a diversion, then dash off with the food before they can take it
- Appease the ants with the bowl of fruit salad you made just for them, having foreseen this potential outcome
- Leave everything and get out of there. You don't want any of the dishware back after the ants have touched it
- Quickly snap shut the metal containers in which the food is stored and get out of the way. The ants will eventually lose interest and leave
- Blast the suckers with Brobdingnagian Bug spray
[2-T]