Food to Pack for a Day at the Beach

Beach bound? Pack these delicious and portable foods in your cooler to extend your fun in the sun.
elevated view of a family having a picnic at the beach

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elevated view of a family having a picnic at the beach

Photo by: Stockbyte / Getty Images ©Stockbyte / Getty Images

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When you're spending a day at the beach, you want food that's light and refreshing (and extremely easy to eat). Fresh fruit, skewered vegetables and one-hand sandwiches all fit the bill, and they will leave you with as little sand in your mouth as possible.

Wrap and Roll

Well-wrapped long, skinny sandwiches are easy to eat in bites –– think a baguette with ham, cold-cut heroes, veggie wraps or even something burrito-esque. The outer layer ought to protect the insides from getting too sandy, and if you unwrap each bite as it's needed, you'll have an even easier time.

Finger-Lickin' Good

Fried chicken is classic beach picnic fare for good reason. It's easy to eat with one hand, sand won't stick to the breading and, if you get messy from it, well, the ocean's right there. Make it the night before and pack it in a cooler for easy transport.

Tutti Fruity

Cut fruit is a picnic standby –– but if you'd rather not have dripping watermelon at the beach, we understand that too. Try whole fruits instead –– apples or grapes have fewer cut surfaces to attract sand. Mix up a salty-spicy dip for your fruit to keep it interesting. Try a combo of chili powder, salt and sugar for sweeter fruit like mangoes, or use salt and lime zest for something like watermelon.

Stick It Out

Skewers make almost everything easier to eat. Try skewering cherry tomatoes and mozzarella bocconcini along with basil leaves for a quick and easy caprese; grill bite-size chunks of zucchini and eggplant the night before and serve at room temperature; or thread sausage, peppers and onions onto skewers and serve as one-handed, bread-free subs.

Cookies (Hold the Milk)

Homemade or store-bought cookies both work nicely as a dessert option; you could consider steering clear of chocolate so that you don't have to worry about it melting, but isn't melted chocolate the best part of eating cookies at the beach?

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