You don’t have to wave goodbye to healthier eating just because you’re heading to the beach. Here’s some top tips and tricks on how to create beach-friendly food for the family that’s easy-to-make and will keep the kids happy and satisfied throughout the day.
01
Plan ahead
With many less healthy foods readily available at the beach, it pays to plan ahead the day before, bake either a zucchini slice, homemade scrolls, tuna patties, or some apple and oat muffins. Don’t forget to slice into portions before you go so it’s easier to eat. For a snack, consider making a dip, such as hummus or pea pesto, and cut up carrots, cucumber and celery to eat it with. Fill up the ice-cube trays and put the chiller bricks in the freezer.
02
Natural goodness
Lots of fruit comes in its own sand-proof wrapping and makes a refreshing beachside snack. Freeze oranges whole beforehand and they should defrost over the day – they can also act as ice-bricks! Grapes are also great to freeze and kids love them.
03
Single serve
Pack sandwiches individually to avoid sandy hands making the whole pack gritty. Keep them simple so the fillings don’t fall out if you’re eating on the go. Even better, there’s no need to lug plates with you.
04
Happy trails
A trail mix is easy to eat with your hands, includes a mix of goodies like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit and won’t spoil in the heat. Pack some tap water in a bottle to rinse off your hands before you eat.
05
Top of the pops
Air-popped or homemade popcorn is a healthier treat that kids love. Flavour it with some spice mix and store in individual brown-paper bags.
06
Hand it over
Food on sticks, such as fruit kebabs or cubes of cheese and cherry tomatoes, are nutritious and even if the kids do have sandy fingers, the food is more likely to stay grit-free. Similarly, healthier muffins, mini tuna patties and slices can be eaten with one hand just in case the other one happens to be covered in sand.
07
Cool customer
Freeze bottles of water to keep hydrated throughout the day and act as chillers for the other food. If you can, take a cooler bag with ice bricks or small bags of ice to keep the food cool and fresh. And a hard cooler bag can double up as a seat or table for lunch.
