Summer may be breezing by but there’s still plenty of beach days left. What can make a beautiful, sunny day filled with clear, blue skies, a warm ocean, soft sand and good company even better? A well-packed plant-based picnic! 

Swimming and laying out in the sun is relaxing and fun but it also makes us hungry, dehydrated, and exposed to free radicals from the sunlight. Instead of relying on concession stands that may not have the healthiest, or even vegan friendly, options, do yourself a huge favor by packing your own food. And hey, you can always leave room for buying ice cream there, if there’s a non-dairy option! 

To make this the best, and most sustainable, picnic, you’ll need:

• A cooler or cooler bag

• Ice Packs 

• Napkins

• Bag for trash - this is a great time to reuse a plastic bag if you got one at the store.

• Reusable cutlery and straws (if needed)

• Silicon bags - to pack loose foods

• Hand sanitizer

Now let’s get to the more fun part, which is the food!

Sandwiches

When you’re at the beach and sand is flying all over the place, you need foods that you can eat quickly and with your hands. That’s why sandwiches are so perfect for days by the sea. They’re filling, give us much needed energy, and provide a balanced combination of protein, carbs, and fats. 

Here are some examples of 100% plant-based sandwiches to bring:

• Bagel with vegan cream cheese, tomatoes, and cucumbers

• Whole wheat bread with faux meat deli slices, vegan cheese slice, vegan mayo and mustard

• PB&J

• Hummus wrap with favorite veggies 

Savory Snacks

You’ll probably want to eat something on the side of your sandwich. After a few dips in the ocean, you might get hungry later on too. Having easy, sturdy foods to crunch on do dual duty at the beach: they’re fun and can provide good nutrition and energy. Aim for at least 2-3 options, or more, depending on how many people you’ll be with.

Some good options include:

• Crunchy sliced vegetables such as cucumbers, carrots, celery, and bell peppers

• Sugar snap peas 

• Hummus

• Guacamole

• Chips

• Pretzels

• Popcorn

• Whole grain crackers 

• Pea Crisps

• Quinoa Snacks

Fruit

One of the best parts of summer, aside from perfect beach days, are the fruits that are in season. Since fruits are mainly water-based, they provide us with extra hydration. Additionally, they’re full of antioxidants which is great for our health and our skin, as we lay in the sun, exposing ourselves to free radicals which can cause cancer. Have 1-3 options if you can such as:

• Berries

• Watermelon cubes

• Cantaloupe cubes

• Peaches

• Nectarines

• Plums

• Cherries

Sweet Snacks

What about when that sweet tooth hits and fruit is not going to cut it? Sweet snacks are essential for a good beach day. Even with the best packed cooler, I don’t recommend snacks that will melt, like chocolate. Here are some other good, totally vegan, sweets that pack well for days like this:

• Oreos (or other sandwich cookies)

• Newman’s Newtons

• Energy Bites

• Graham crackers

• Vegan Gummies (like Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers)

Hydration

Being in the hot sun for hours, whether or not you feel like you’re sweating, is dehydrating. Depending on how strong the sun is and the humidity levels, you can even be at risk for heat exhaustion, or worse, if you don’t stay hydrated. For those of you who drink alcohol at the beach, remember that it will also contribute to dehydration, so make sure to hydrate even more with non-alcoholic options. Here are some drinks to have on hand, and plenty of them, so you avoid buying plastic water bottles or cups once you’re there. Fill up your reusable bottles, especially the ones that are insulated like Swell or Simple Modern. Everyone you’re with should have a water bottle or two filled with one of these options:

• Water (duh) but you can also get fancy by infusing it with citrus juice, watermelon, mint, or cucumber. 

• Sparkling flavored waters like La Croix

• Iced Coffee 

• Iced Tea

• 100% Juice

• Fruit and Vegetable Smoothie

• Agua Fresca with your favorite summer fruit

Plan, Pack and Go

If you like getting to the beach early, shop for what you’ll need at least the day before you’re going. Packing up for the beach always seems to take longer than you think it will so you might even want to make your sandwiches and portion out loose foods into silicon bags the night before as well. Remember that doing this work up front will cause you to avoid the concession stands, save money, and reduce waste so it’s worth it! 

Now pack up that cooler bag, don’t forget your mineral-based sunscreen, a good book or magazine, towels, and an umbrella, and have an amazing day! What are your favorite snacks to bring to the beach?