Hot days at the beach require a very specific kind of snack. You want something light, refreshing and easy to carry in your beach bag. Shout out to those people that pack a cooler for the beach, that’s just too much work for me. I’ll admit that these days my beach outings are likely to end up with a stop for gelato, but before that gelato, I try to make smart choices with what I’m snacking on.
Recently I visited a beach in Mallorca that required a one hour drive and a 20 minute hike down a steep and rocky hill. I brought no snacks, whoops. Luckily two men showed up waterside with a wheelbarrow full of watermelon, pineapple and coconuts! We snacked on a huge chunk of watermelon and a freshly cut coconut. Couldn’t have been more delicious. But note to self, always remember to pack snacks in the event that fresh fruit isn’t dolled out!
5 Healthy Snacks to Pack for Next Beach Day
Frozen Grapes
For a refreshing snack, toss fresh/washed grapes in the freezer before your beach trip. If they melt while you’re at the beach, it’s no big deal, you’re just eating some good cold grapes! Either way it’s great. Fresh fruit is always a good go-to for hydrating snacking at the beach and grapes happen to be one of the easier ones to transport and chow down on.
Dried Mango
Hands down one of my favorite snacks in general and extra perfect for the beach. I love fruit, but sometimes fresh fruit can get a little messy. Enter dried mango. Always look for the ‘no sugar added’ versions. My top pick is Trader Joe’s Just Mango.
Rx Bars and Nut Butters
If you’re hungry and need some fat to tide you over, RX to the rescue. Their balanced ingredients are very filling thanks to a good dose of healthy fat and protein. I’ve been a fan of the bars for years and the new nut butters have lived up to my high expectations from RX. These little packets are perfect on the go. I tend to eat them directly out of the pouch (just squeeze it right into my mouth!) but they would also be good with a banana or apple slices at the beach.
Seaweed Snacks
These crunchy paper-like snacks are kinda messy as little pieces of green seaweed can go flying when you take a bite. But hey, that’s the beauty of the beach! If you’re not particularly hungry but just in the mood to eat, these are a great go-to. They are typically low in calories so boredom eaters rejoice.
Siete Chips
Alright, sometimes you just want a crunchy, salty, delicious snack. Chips are hard to say no to. It’s real easy to down a whole bag of chips while sitting in your beach chair. If you’re going to do that, at least make them good chips. Go for Siete’s chips, they’re grain free and made with just a handful of ingredients. My favorite beach flavor is the lime.
And if you’re thinking I only eat healthy things while beaching, you’re wrong. Tropical vacations require at least one ice cream cone and just one overly sugary cocktail (pina coladas are always my pick).
Did I miss any good ones? What’s your favorite beach side snack?
