10 Best Beach Day Snacks

We are in it, friends… we made it to some of the hottest days of the year! It’s the middle of summer and you may be feeling the heat {I know I am!}

Even though we live in Southern California, we don’t make it to the beach too often. The last time my family really had a beach day together was during our vacation to Hawaii, which was a whole year ago! We’re due for another beach day soon, don’t you think?

On the trip, our time at the beach was sort of touch and go. Some days, David enjoyed it all and even liked going in the water. Other days he wanted nothing to do with the beach. We had a good trip and it was layered with trying to meet David’s needs, wondering if it was worth all the time and energy and feeling grateful for an adventure as a family. We brought help with us and it was still hard! I don’t know what the future of travel looks like for our family but I’m glad we took a risk and made some amazing memories.

After all of our practice in Hawaii, traveling to a beach near home feels a lot more manageable! I now know what David needs to best enjoy his time. One thing I am certain of is this: we need LOTS of snacks for beach day!!

I think this is true for every family— good beach snacks make for a good beach day! Whether your kids are little ones running around in the waves, or older kids like mine, being at the beach all day {or even just for a few hours} can take all the energy out of you. That’s why it’s important to come prepared with plenty of water and food for the beach.

But what are the best beach snacks? Lucky for you, I’ve already thought this all through! Here are the 10 best beach day snacks I plan on packing for my next adventure by the ocean.

Frozen grapes
Looking for healthy and cold beach day snacks? Frozen grapes are the perfect little treat for a day in the sun. They have the same texture as a popsicle but are a lot less messy— no melty popsicle sticks, just pop one or two in your mouth and enjoy!

Plus they’re soo easy to make! Buy a bag of your favorite grapes {I love using red seedless grapes since they’re so sweet}, rinse under cool water, pick the grapes from their stem, place them in a freezer-friendly container, and then pop them in the freezer overnight. They’ll be nice and frozen before you head to the water!

Just make sure you have a good cooler and plenty of ice packs to keep them cold throughout the day.

Smoothies
Yuuum, more cold and healthy beach snacks! Smoothies are great pick-me-ups after a few hours in the sun. I especially like them because they’re filling while still being light on your stomach. I don’t know about you, but after being in the sun for so long, my stomach is NOT looking for a heavy meal.

Smoothies are also so versatile. There are so many different ways you can blend! Use your family’s favorite smoothie recipes to pack with you on your next beach trip, or get creative with trying different blends of fruit, milk, and sweeteners.

Again, a quality cooler is super important to store this snack until you’re ready. No one wants a soupy, lukewarm smoothie when they’re expecting a cold treat.

Homemade trail mix
For salty beach snacks, trail mix is one of my best picks. Why? Because it’s a mixture of so many different snacks in one! Lots of stores sell different brands of trail mixes you can choose from. But if you don’t want to spend your snacking time having to pick around your not-so-favorite pieces {sorry raisins…}, the best way to get your ideal trail mix is to make your own.

You can really add anything you want to your trail mix. I always like starting out with the basics: some nuts {like peanuts, cashews, or pecans} and some dried fruit— craisins, dried apricots, or even dried banana chips are some of my go-tos. Then from there, I choose other treats that would pair well with my base, such as pretzels, Chex cereal, Goldfish, chocolate chips, Reeses Pieces, or whatever else your taste buds are craving. Making your own trail mix lets you be as healthy or indulgent as you want!

Protein bar
Protein bars are super easy snacks for a day at the beach. Going to the beach with a box of your family’s favorite protein bars is always a good idea. Just when your energy is starting to run low, a protein bar will give you that boost you need to continue the beach day fun! When the kids are in the middle of building a sandcastle, a protein bar is a quick snack they wouldn’t mind taking a break for.

Protein bars are also small and don’t need special storage, so if you’re trying to pack light, they are the best option.

Popcorn
Here’s a thing we can all agree on: popcorn isn’t just for the movies! If you’re wanting something to munch on while lounging on your towel, popcorn’s the snack for you. Light, buttery, and salty are a perfect combo of flavors to go along with the salty waves.

One thing I love about popcorn is that you can add any seasoning you want. I like to experiment with different flavors. Sometimes, I mix my popcorn with melted coconut oil and a little salt for a tropical feel {this is especially nice for a beach snack}. Or, if I want a unique savory flavor, I mix in olive oil and dried or finely diced fresh herbs like basil, parsley, chives, and oregano.

Beach charcuterie
If you know anything about me, it’s probably that I loooove charcuterie boards! How can I not?! They’re such a wonderful snack for all occasions. I make a charcuterie board for most holidays and get togethers— like a Halloween candy charcuterie board or a hot chocolate themed board for Christmas. Why not make a charcuterie board for a beach day?

You can add all the best beach snacks to your board. The key is to use beach food ideas that are easy to pick up and munch on. String cheese and sliced meat {think salami, ham, or turkey} are a must. Some cut up fruits that would pair well are pineapples, melons, mango, or strawberries. You can also use nuts, olives, veggies, and more.

Bring a non-breakable, travel-friendly platter to arrange your snacks on. Then, when you’re all resting under the umbrella for a break from the sun, set your platter on a towel or on top of your cooler. Everyone will be picking away at the goodies until they’re gone.

Fruit salad
I’m sure many of you can agree that all kinds of fruits are the best beach snacks. There’s a reason we love fruit so much in the summer— there’s just something about the cool, sweet, juicy fruit that is so satisfying on a hot day. So preparing a fruit salad for the beach is sure to make everyone in your family happy!

Cut up a mix of fresh fruits before you make your way to the ocean. You can use any combo you want, but it’s best to pick the fruits you know your family already loves. I like to make summer berry fruit salads or tropical fruit salads for the beach.

Another added bonus: the natural sugar in fruit will give you a boost of energy without the crash of artificial sweeteners.

Pasta salad
So far for these beach food ideas, I’ve given you a lot of snack-y options. If you’re looking for something more substantial, pasta salad is wonderfully filling while still being light and summery. While you need a bit more time to prepare this snack beforehand, you’ll find that the extra prep was worth it when you’re enjoying your pasta salad while watching the waves.

I especially love a pasta salad with lemon dressing for the beach, but you can make it any way you like. Use that summer picnic recipe your grandma passed down, or find a new recipe online you want to try!

Nut butter and veggies
Looking for more savory and sweet beach snack ideas? Look no further! Veggies with a nut butter, such as peanut or almond butter, is the perfect combo of flavors. The nut butter is filling while the veggies are refreshing.

It’s also a great way to get your kids to eat some vegetables! They’ll be so hungry from all the beach playtime that they’ll be happy for any sort of snack.

Slice up your veggies beforehand so you can go right to the munching once you’re at the beach. Baby carrots, sliced bell peppers, broccoli florets, and sliced cucumber are all great options for this snack.

Potato Chips
Okay, I’d be lying to you if I said I didn’t bring ANY unhealthy snacks to the beach 😉 Sometimes when I’m sitting on my beach chair I just want the crunchy, salty goodness of a potato chip. So, while it’s good to have snacks like frozen grapes and protein bars to give you a healthy boost of energy, you can also balance it out with some not-so-healthy chips. Balance is a good thing, trust me!

While time at the beach is meant to be fun and relaxing for all, I know that sometimes, if you’re the one planning everything, a day at the beach can be more stressful than it’s worth. I hope that by giving you these 10 best beach day snacks you can spend less time worrying about the food to bring and more time enjoying a restful day with your loved ones in the sun! Just don’t forget to pack the sunscreen!!