Swimming, building sandcastles and splashing in the water can make you and your kids hungry. Here are 15 beach snack ideas that are perfect finger foods and can stay fresh in a cooler without requiring refrigeration.
Of course, the better your cooler and the less you open it, the longer your snacks will stay cool.
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List of Beach Snack Ideas
Most of these snacks will travel to the beach just fine in good portable cooler. Some of these snacks don’t require any refrigeration at all.
Let’s start the list.
23. Watermelon
Watermelon just reminds me of summer!
And it makes a great snack at the beach.
Just make sure those sandy little hands get rinsed off first. No one likes a gritty watermelon!
22. Trail Mix
Trail mix is a perfect blend of nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate or yogurt-covered treats.
It’s easy to pack, doesn’t require refrigeration, and provides a great energy boost.
Just keep in mind, if you don’t have it in the cooler, the chocolate can melt and create a mess in the bag.
If you don’t want to bring a cooler, opt for a trail mix without chocolate.
21. Fruit Kabobs
Skewer chunks of pineapple, melon, grapes, and strawberries on sticks for a refreshing and easy-to-eat snack.
Keep them cool in the cooler for a quick and healthy treat.
In the pic above you can see the fruit skewers I made. I went with strawberries, watermelons, grapes and some oranges.
And we used vanilla yogurt as the dip.
20. Cheese and Crackers
When you’re taking crackers and cheese to the beach, it doesn’t have to be fancy
You can simply pack a variety of cheese slices and your favorite crackers.
Cheese stays good for a while in a cooler, but it can start to “sweat” if it warms up.
19. Veggie Sticks and Hummus
Slice up carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, etc…and pair them with single-serve hummus packs or bring a small Tupperware container of hummus.
It’s a nutritious, crunchy snack that doesn’t need to stay super cold.
But just make sure the kids get the sand off their hands before reaching over the vegetable platter.
(I hate when sand gets on my veggies.)
18. Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
Peanut butter stuffed pretzels are a deliciously salty and sweet snack that’s easy to pack and eat at the beach (as long as they don’t get soggy).
They do provide some protein too which may help fill you up a bit.
17. Popcorn
I generally try to cut down on plastic usage, but single serve popcorn packets come in handy at the beach because sandy little hands don’t have to reach into a big bowl of popcorn. They can just eat it out of their packet.
Popcorn is perfect for munching on at the beach and doesn’t need refrigeration.
16. Granola Bars
Homemade or store-bought granola bars are convenient and usually have some fiber to help fill you up.
Look for bars with wholesome ingredients like oats, nuts, and dried fruit. If the bars have chocolate or yogurt in them, they can melt and create a sticky mess, so I suggest to keep those ones in a cooler.
15. Apple Slices with Nut Butter
Pre-sliced apples paired with some almond butter or peanut butter in a little bowl makes a tasty and healthy beach snack.
The nut butter adds protein and healthy fats while the apple provides some natural sweetness.
Just once again, make sure you rinse the sand off your hands first because sand likes to coat a moist apple like flies coat a porch light.
14. Pita Chips and Guacamole
Pack some pita chips and small containers of guacamole.
This combination is flavorful and filling, perfect for a beach day.
13. Dried Fruit
Dried mango, apricots, and apple rings are sweet, chewy, don’t need refrigeration and are easy to transport.
12. Cheese Sticks
Individually wrapped cheese sticks are convenient and stay good in a cooler.
Pair them with some whole grain crackers for a simple, protein-rich snack.
11. Nuts and Seeds
Almonds, cashews, and sunflower seeds are nutrient-dense and easy to pack. They provide a good mix of protein, healthy fats, and fiber to keep you energized.
10. Rice Cakes with Variety of Spreads
My daughter likes rice cakes with raspberry jam, but you can also top rice cakes with mashed avocado for a crunchy, creamy snack.
Prepare them at the beach to keep the avocado fresh.
If you or your fellow beachgoers don’t like avocado you can bring a variety of spreads in small containers for them to choose what they like.
9. Mini Muffins
Bake some mini muffins with ingredients like bananas, oats, and nuts. They’re easy to pack and make a sweet yet healthy treat.
Here is a banana muffin recipe from LittleSunnyKitchen.com that you can bake ahead of time in order to bring along on your next beach trip.
8. Frozen Grapes
Freeze grapes the night before your beach trip.
They’ll stay cold in the cooler and are incredibly refreshing to snack on under the sun.
7. Jerky
Beef, turkey, or plant-based jerky is a protein-packed snack that doesn’t require refrigeration.
It’s perfect for keeping you full and gives you something to chew on during the day.
It’s a low-carb option that can satisfy your snack cravings.
RELATED ARTICLE: Check out this handy list of High Protein Snacks.
6. Hard-Boiled Eggs
Pre-boil some eggs and keep them in the cooler.
They’re an excellent source of protein and can be enjoyed with a sprinkle of salt and pepper or paprika.
5. Crackers and Nut Butter
You can could easily pair some crackers with some nut butter to make a satisfying and nutritious snack.
The combination of carbs and healthy fats will keep you energized.
But if you don’t want to put it together, RITZ makes these little peanut butter “cracker sandwiches”.
4. Energy Balls
Want to make some homemade energy balls that are easy to make and even easier to pack for the beach?
If so, check out this recipe from SpendWithPennies.com
Keep them in the cooler to maintain their shape.
3. Coconut Chips
Coconut chips are a crunchy, slightly sweet snack that’s perfect for the beach. They’re light, easy to transport, and provide a bit of natural sweetness.
2. Roasted Chickpeas
Seasoned and roasted chickpeas are a crunchy, savory snack high in protein and fiber. They’re easy to pack and don’t require refrigeration, making them perfect for a beach day.
1. Mini Sandwiches or Subs
If you’ve got a decent cooler then packing your own little sandwiches or subs is a great way to get some healthy food into you while at the beach.
I know in the picture above it shows lettuce and tomatoes on the sandwich, but I generally leave the tomatoes out of my sandwich while I’m making them.
If I want “moist” vegetables like cucumbers or tomatoes in my sandwich, I’ll slice them up, pack them separately from my sandwich and then add them to my sandwich right before I’m about to eat.
This prevents the bread from getting soggy from the veggies.
I hope some of these beach snacks will be in your cooler or beach bag on your next beach trip.
Up Next:
Who knew you can do some much with peaches! Check out these tasty Peach recipes
Check out these refreshing, non-alcoholic mocktails that you can sip on the beach…and still drive the kids home!
Find these beach snack ideas later by pinning the image below to your Pinterest account.
