Summer Fun: Plan a Family Beach Picnic

It’s summertime! The kids are out of school and you’re looking for fun things to do outdoors. If you’re planning a beach vacation, or just want to make it a day trip, why not have a picnic? We have some easy and delicious snack ideas your family will love. We put together the perfect menu for your next beach picnic, so grab your sunscreen and beach towel and get ready for a fun time!

Tips to Get You Started

• You can’t go wrong with finger foods. Don’t overwhelm yourself with silverware, plates and extra containers.
• Choose foods that won’t sour in the heat. Prepare for a warm day; cooler space is often limited.
• Pick snacks that are easy to tote around. Forget the extra bags, pack one cooler (bring enough ice packs to keep your food at or below 40’F for food safety) and fit all your favorites there.
• Don’t forget to pack a blanket or large beach towel. There’s nothing worse than sandy snacks!
• Stay hydrated. Add lots of bottled water, juice pouches and sports drinks to your cooler.
• Keep it clean. Pick a spot near an area where you can wash your hands and bring additional hand sanitizer.

Create Your Own Fun Snacks

PB&J Roll Ups – Easy to make and more fun to eat than a regular PB&J. All you need is peanut butter, jelly and bread rolled into a bite-sized snack.

Veggies and Ranch – Pour ranch dressing in the bottom of a glass container and add your favorite veggies.

Fruit Skewers – This requires some preparation, but is great for a beach day snack. Slice up your favorite fruits and put them on a skewer. Include a variety of fruit to create a colorful treat.

Create Your Own Kabob – Add cheese cubes, lunch meat, pickles or more! The options are endless.

Other Beach Favorites

Don’t forget about these other snacks perfect for the beach:

• Beach-Themed Snacks – Some ideas include goldfish crackers or shark-themed fruit snacks.
• Publix Sub – Pub subs taste better on the beach. Do you agree? It’s simple to order your sub online on your way to the beach.
• Whole Fruit – If you don’t have time to slice your fruit for the skewers, bring whole fruit! It’s easy to pack in your cooler.
• Brownies and Cookies – You can’t forget the sweets! Bake some treats to bring with you or stop by the store for your favorite chocolate chip or sugar cookies.

Do you have any snack ideas to add to our list? We’d love to hear your favorites and suggestions. Share them with us in the comments below!