What are the best beach snacks for kids?

From a mum’s point of view, it’s not all about the taste. The best snacks are quick, easy and portable. Bonus points if they’re reasonably healthy and don’t make a huge mess. 

If you can make individual servings with them, that’s even better. Somehow my daughter always claims to be absolutely starving at the same time that my son has just started snorkelling and is not about to get out of the water any time soon. It’s great to be able to pull out each person’s portion when they’re ready.

We used to bring foods like pasta salad and chickpea salad to the beach, but that’s just too fussy. And there’s no need to do so much prepping when there are so many quick and easy beach snacks for kids that are still healthy.

Here are 15 great choices for your next beach outing.

  1. Sandwiches – Sandwiches are a classic beach choice for good reason: they’re satisfying, portable and extremely versatile.
  2. Wraps – If your kids are still at the age where sand ends up inside their sandwich, a tortilla wrap might work better for you.
  3. Watermelon – Cut into bite-sized pieces or scoop little balls out with a melon baller for a super refreshing snack. And you don’t have to worry about all that dripping watermelon juice like you would at home!
  4. 2-ingredient cookies:  Made with overripe bananas and oats, this healthy treat comes together in no time. Add coconut, nuts, or seeds if desired.
  5. Cereal – Pack the cereal in a container and bring milk in a water bottle, then combine on the spot. Nina often asks for cereal at the beach!
  6. Cheese & crackers – Who doesn’t love this? Choose whole wheat crackers for something more filling, and go for harder cheeses as they’ll hold up better in the cooler.
  7. Trail mix – Mix together your family’s favourite nuts, seeds, and dried fruit in a bowl. Then portion out into baggies for the ultimate grab-and-go snack.
  8. Crudites and hummus – For a healthier snack option, cut up some carrots, celery and raw red pepper, or whatever veggies your kids will eat. Pop into a bag with a small container of hummus for dipping.
  9. Fruit skewers – Chop up your kids’ favourite fruits and put them on skewers for a portable version of fruit salad. Blueberries, kiwis, melon, and pineapple all work pretty well at the beach; avoid bananas and apples if your kids are fussy about browning. Wrap up tight for packing.
  10. PB and banana wrap – Spread peanut butter on a whole wheat wrap, top with sliced bananas, and roll up. You can sprinkle a little granola in there, too, if your kids like crunch. Don’t spread the PB too close to the edges of the tortilla. That way, it won’t ooze out if it gets a little melty.
  11. Popcorn – Pop up some popcorn when you wake up, toss with some salt and the spices your kids like, and toss into individual bags.
  12. Apples – Apples pair so well with everything from almond butter to cheese. You can slice them up ahead of time and hold the slices back together on the core with a clean rubber band to minimize browning until it’s time to eat.
  13. Pretzels and PB – Pretzel sticks are easy to dip into a small container of peanut butter at the beach, and this combo strikes the perfect balance between salty and sweet.
  14. Raspberries with chocolate chips – Normally chocolate is a no-go for the beach because it melts, but hear me out. Raspberries are a great fruit to bring to the beach because they are rich in fiber. You can tuck a chocolate chip in the middle of each one if you’re leaving them in the cooler as they won’t melt!
  15. Dried fruit – Avoid sticky dried fruits that will make your kids’ fingers sand magnets. Dried apricots, apples, and bananas work pretty well at the beach. Raisins and mango, not so much.

Getting ready for the beach is a big job when you’ve got children. Make it easier on yourself with these fantastic beach snacks for kids so you can find some time to relax, too!